Manuka Resources has reported machinery and infrastructure damage after a severe, localised weather event hit its Wonawinta silver mine in New South Wales on Saturday (December 5).
The site was struck by exceptionally strong winds and heavy rain at 4.30pm AEDT, which caused an estimated $1 million in damage to auxiliary housing and shedding.
New South Wales was hit by severe thunderstorms last Saturday, and Wonawinta’s nearest town Cobar was hit with 10.4 millimetres of rain between 5pm and 11.30pm, according to data from the Bureau of Meteorology.
It also experienced a top wind gust of 91 kilometres per hour during the storm and a top wind speed of 54 kilometres per hour blew in from the south west.
The repair of the Wonawinta plant is expected to take four to five days, with Manuka having selected replacement equipment for its other damaged goods.
Manuka has alerted its insurance parties of the incident and stressed that its insurance policies are current.
None of its workers were injured in the event.
Manuka has operated the Wonawinta project since 2016 and last year scoped and executed a $5 million comprehensive plant refurbishment plan.
The company plans to move from gold production at its nearby Mt Boppy site into silver operations at Wonawinta in mid-2021.
During November, Manuka drilled more than 10,000 metres across 273 drill holes at Wonawinta as it continued its plans to complete infill drilling of its current oxide silver, lead and zinc sulphide resources.
The company will continue this ramp up into early 2021 as it embarks upon its first sulphide exploration campaign with a 20 hole program over 2000 metres.