Southern Cross Gold (ASX:SX2 | TSX:SXGC) is preparing to launch the next phase of underground exploration at its Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project, located 60km north of Melbourne in Victoria.
Southern Cross recently awarded an underground exploration decline contract to PYBAR Mining Services, a subsidiary of Thiess.
The scope of works includes box cut ground support, portal establishment, and primary decline and support services installation. Initial lateral development, including diamond drilling platforms for seven months, will also be required.
Once work ends in late 2026, the decline will enable a fleet expansion from 11 surface rigs to 24 surface and underground rigs. The project is expected to become one of the world’s largest pre-development drill-outs.
Resources Victoria approved the project work plan on 27 November 2025. State Premier Jacinta Allan also publicly endorsed the project as a “critical minerals jobs opportunity” for the Garden State.
“We have been establishing the surface infrastructure and secured the secondary consents required to commence underground mining. With these in place, we are pleased to confirm the award of the decline contract to PYBAR,” Southern Cross President and CEO Michael Hudson says.
“We have the contractor and the operational leadership in place to look forward to year-end decline completion and significant[ly] increased drilling capacity.”
The company has also appointed Shane Leary as Projects Manager (Operations) and Ben Edwards as Underground Development Manager.
Southern Cross Gold is a gold exploration company with assets primarily in Victoria.
Write to Richard Szabo at Mining.com.au
Images: Southern Cross Gold
