Tasmania’s Avebury nickel mine has reopened after a 13-year hiatus and is expected to deliver a huge boost to the West Coast and provide state-wide benefits, providing new opportunities for local businesses as they supply Avebury with equipment and services, creating more jobs.
Mining and minerals processing is a key pillar of the Tasmanian economy, providing almost two thirds of the state’s export earnings and supporting more than 5,000 jobs.
As the world rapidly moves towards a renewable energy future, demand for key and critical minerals from Tasmania such as copper, nickel, tin, zinc and tungsten is set to grow.
Mining at Avebury is already underway, and new operator, Mallee Resources, has recruited 150 staff to date, with this expected to increase to around 200 workers by the end of the year.
More jobs in the region also leads to flow-on benefits for the community including more children in local schools, more groceries being bought at the local supermarket or servo, and more counter meals being bought from local pubs.
The mine’s reopening is the latest in a run of good news for the sector including the start of work on King Island’s Dolphin tungsten mine, signing of an option agreement between Mt Lyell’s current owner and New Century Resources to acquire the operation, and a record mineral exploration spend and royalties take.
