Northern Star Resources is tightening cost discipline and targeting higher productivity across its Australian gold portfolio after a “challenging” period, with particular emphasis on its Kalgoorlie and Yandal operations and integration of the KCGM Super Pit. The company is pushing mine-planning optimisation, fleet efficiency and mill throughput improvements at processing hubs such as Kanowna Belle and Thunderbox, while scrutinising unit costs per ounce. For contractors and suppliers, the shift signals closer attention to drilling productivity, equipment utilisation and ore-handling performance benchmarks on existing brownfield sites.

South32’s Australian operations have rebounded in the first half of FY26, with stronger output from its manganese and zinc businesses lifting group production and offsetting weaker contributions from some overseas assets. The turnaround centres on operations such as GEMCO and Cannington, where higher ore grades and improved plant availability have supported increased concentrate and alloy volumes. For mine planners and process engineers, the performance points to continued investment in brownfield debottlenecking and reliability upgrades rather than major greenfield capacity additions in the near term.

New Murchison Gold has logged a fourth straight month of rising output from its Crown Prince underground mine in Western Australia, following the first production blast at the newly developed Crown Prince lode. The operation is ramping up stoping and ore haulage from fresh development headings, feeding higher-grade material into the existing New Murchison processing circuit rather than building new plant. For mine planners and geotechs, the sustained lift signals stable ground conditions and successful sequencing of new stopes, with scope to refine drilling, blasting and backfill strategies as production scales.