Northern Star Resources’ March quarter gold sales have surged, signalling a production ramp-up across its Western Australian assets including Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines and the Super Pit. Management is positioning for record output in FY25–26 as processing throughput and mine development advance at key hubs such as Yandal and Pogo, supported by higher mill utilisation and improved grade control. For contractors and suppliers, the trajectory points to increased demand for underground development, open-pit fleet capacity, and plant optimisation services over the next 12–18 months.

Ausenco has secured an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract for the Hillside copper project, signalling progression towards full project execution after a prolonged permitting and feasibility phase. The mandate covers process plant design, materials handling and associated infrastructure, positioning Ausenco to define key specifications for concentrator throughput, tailings management and power supply. For geotechnical and civil teams, the EPCM scope will drive final decisions on pit geotechnics, foundation systems for heavy plant and haul road geometry ahead of construction mobilisation.

ION Minerals has expanded its lithium brine portfolio to just over 280,000 mineral acres across the Smackover Formation in East Texas/Arkansas, the Texas Panhandle and Saskatchewan’s Duperow Formation, with adjacent Smackover projects reporting 47–60 tonnes LCE per acre. The company now controls nearly 50,000 acres between Tetra Technologies’ Evergreen Brine Unit and Standard Lithium’s Reynolds and Franklin units, plus 65,000 acres in the Texas Panhandle where internal work suggests up to 2.4 million tonnes LCE in place. A further 165,000 acres in southeast Saskatchewan could host up to 2.5 million tonnes LCE, with multi-bench Duperow drilling and testing scheduled for summer 2026.