Friday, 20th October 2006 (3020 views)

A new mine that has been opened in Bendigo near Melbourne, Australia, has led to calls that a "second gold rush" is hitting the area.

The Premier of Victoria, Steve Bracks, hailed a new gold mining project – set to become the third largest in Australia – which he officially opened in Bendigo.

A total of 230 people are employed on the Bendigo gold project with this figure rising to 580 when production reaches its peak.

Mr Bracks remarked: "This is going to be a great second gold rush for central Victoria."

He added "There's going to be a great benefit, about $350 million (£141 million) extra in the economy, because of this gold mine."

When at maximum production, the mine is going to produce in excess of 600,000 ounces of gold annually, according to Mr Bracks.

Between 1851 and 1954, Bendigo produced more than 20 million ounces of gold and more gold was found at the site between 1850 and 1900 than anywhere else in the world.

Bendigo is therefore Australia's second largest producer of gold behind Kalgoorlie and is the seventh largest producer in the world.

 

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