Ballard Mining is advancing project development and early infrastructure works at its fully permitted Mt Ida Gold Project in Western Australia’s Goldfields. The latest program includes a newly granted West Knell Mining Lease, feasibility-level technical work, an expanded exploration camp, additional water bores and a contract for a four-kilometre public road diversion.
Technical work advances the development case
Metallurgical test work for the Baldock deposit has been completed to feasibility-study level, with average gold recovery of 91 per cent. Mine geotechnical assessments at the same level have also been completed for the Baldock open pits and underground area, as well as the Kestrel and West Knell open pits.
An updated global Mt Ida Mineral Resource Estimate is underway after approximately 150 kilometres of drilling since the previous update in February 2026. Ballard intends to base a maiden Baldock Ore Reserve on the forthcoming update. Mt Ida currently hosts 12.2 million tonnes at 3.0 grams per tonne gold for 1.2 million ounces, including more than one million ounces at 3.5 grams per tonne at Baldock.
Camp, water and road works progress
Eight rooms have been added to the exploration camp, taking capacity to 30. Ballard said the rooms will support personnel completing early works and, subject to a final investment decision, the contractor expected to build a proposed accommodation village for the construction workforce.
Four additional production bores have also been installed at the Lake Raeside Paleochannel, bringing the total to seven and supporting a 2.5-gigalitre-a-year water licence. Ballard plans further dewatering bores in the December quarter. Archetype Contracting Group has been awarded the approved public road diversion, with work expected to start and finish during that quarter.
Early works establish a workforce pathway
The road, water and camp programs create active scopes for civil, drilling, construction and site-support contractors. Broader demand associated with mine and plant construction remains conditional on the updated resource, feasibility work and a final investment decision. Ballard has not announced job numbers or a construction start date.
The project has approvals for open-pit and underground mining at Baldock, a processing plant of up to two million tonnes a year and associated tailings storage. Ballard reported $62 million in cash at 30 June 2026.
Source: Ballard Mining Limited, “Project Development and Infrastructure Works Update”, 31 August 2026.