Bellevue gold ramp-up: mine design and production lessons for engineers
Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

First reported on Australian Mining
30 Second Briefing
Bellevue Gold has reported record underlying free cash flow for the March 2026 quarter at its Bellevue operation in Western Australia, driven by higher head grades and stronger mill performance as the project moves through ramp-up. The underground mine, targeting more than 200,000oz per annum at nameplate, is increasing stoping tonnage from the Armand and Deacon lodes while continuing development of new high-grade panels. Management is prioritising accelerated decline advance and ventilation upgrades to support higher ore production rates and sustain the improved grade profile.
Technical Brief
- Additional high-grade stoping panels are being developed in parallel to existing production areas.
- Decline advance is being accelerated to open up deeper mining fronts and shorten future haul distances.
- Ventilation upgrades are planned to increase airflow capacity and support higher diesel equipment utilisation.
- Mill performance improvements are being driven by better plant availability and tighter operating control, not expansion.
- Development ore continues to supplement stoping tonnes, maintaining plant feed while new panels are established.
Our Take
Bellevue Gold’s move to ramp up its Western Australian operation follows the earlier decision (February 2026) to build a paste backfill plant for the Deacon and Deacon North areas, signalling a shift from early production into a more fully optimised, long-life underground mining configuration.
The combination of record renewable power penetration flagged in November 2025 coverage and the current ramp-up at the Bellevue Gold operation means this Western Australian mine is likely to feature in ESG-focused gold supply discussions, especially for offtakers seeking lower-carbon ounces from established jurisdictions.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
Related Articles
Related Industries & Products
Mining
Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.
Tunnelling
Specialised solutions for tunnelling projects including grout mix design, hydrogeological analysis, and quality control.
CMRR-io
Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.
HYDROGEO-io
Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.
GEODB-io
Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.