March 2026

GDM Fast-Tracks Cashflow at Challenger Gold Mine

Great Divide Mining Ltd has moved to accelerate near-term cash generation at its wholly owned Challenger Gold Mine in Adelong, NSW, utilising historical mullock stockpiles on site for initial process plant feed. The mullock provides a low-cost and immediate production feed as commissioning works continue. The priority mullock sites — Currajong, Great Victoria/Annetts/Research, Donkey Hill and Radcliffe/O’Briens — comprise stockpiles ranging from 10,500 to 35,000 tonnes at average gold grades between 1.38g/t and 1.6g/t. “The mullock sits at surface, eliminating drilling and conventional mining costs, with short off-road haulage distances to the upgraded Challenger processing plant,” said CEO Justin Haines. “Seizing this opportunity materially strengthens the Company’s restart strategy,” he said. “This is exactly the kind of opportunity we look for at historic goldfields. The material is already mined, it’s sitting at surface, and at grades higher than some operating hard-rock mines,” Mr. Haines continued. “With record gold prices and minimal recovery costs, mullock processing provides a straightforward pathway to early cashflow while we continue ramp-up activities across the broader Challenger site,” he said Local contractor L.A. Broome Contracting will mobilise within two to three weeks to commence haulage of mullock to the ROM pad, ensuring consistent plant feed as commissioning progresses. GDM is taking a “treat-all” strategy to the mullock to maximise gold recovery. Challenger, part of GDM’s 70km² Adelong Project, is being recommissioned under a staged “crawl-walk-run” restart plan designed to establish commercial production while expanding operational capacity. “Cleaning up the mullock onsite is a win for the environment as well,” said Haines.

Swisslog “Ready for the Next” at Retail Fulfilment Show 2026

Swisslog will be showcasing the latest advancements in AutoStore High Throughput (HTP) Swisslog, a global leader in automated intralogistics solutions, will showcase its agile automation and software solutions at the 2026 Retail Fulfilment Show from 18-19 March at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. The Retail Fulfilment Show brings together retail and supply chain leaders seeking innovative solutions to improve fulfilment speed, scalability, and operational performance. Swisslog will be exhibiting at Stand 31 where it will share its “Ready for the Next” message to Australian and New Zealand retailers and e-commerce businesses. The stand will highlight the latest advancements in AutoStore High Throughput (HTP) and the power of integrated warehouse software. Next-level automation for Australian retailers As retail and e-commerce operations continue to face rising customer expectations, labour pressures, and increasing SKU complexity, flexible and high-performance automation has become critical. At the event, Swisslog will demonstrate how its expertise in designing and delivering AutoStore systems – enhanced by its proprietary SynQ software – helps retailers unlock higher throughput, maximise storage density and future-proof their fulfilment operations. “Retailers and e-commerce businesses need solutions that can evolve as quickly as their customers’ expectations,” said Steve Dimitrovski, Director of Sales, Swisslog Australia and New Zealand, who will be at the Swisslog stand, ready to discuss future-focused automation. “‘Ready for the Next’ reflects our commitment to delivering automation strategies that scale with growth, adapt to change, and provide long-term operational resilience.” Staying in-SynQ Swisslog will also be showcasing its proprietary SynQ software which is designed to sit at the heart of automated intralogistics, bringing together warehouse management, execution, material flow, and automation control into one unified platform. Built to orchestrate people, processes, and robotics across complex retail operations, SynQ connects inbound receiving through to order fulfilment and dispatch. The platform leverages real-time data, […]

Program launched to get more women working in manufacturing in Queensland

A new campaign has been launched to encourage more women into manufacturing as Queensland faces a critical skills shortage in the $28.9 billion sector. Ahead of International Women’s Day, Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ) wants women and girls to know they have a critical role to play in building Queensland’s future and there are numerous job opportunities available to them. MSQ has created the Manufacturing Industry Influencer Program which showcases women who are building successful careers in manufacturing by working in jobs ranging from boilermakers and engineers to rocket designers. MSQ Acting CEO Kris McCue said it is important for women to see other women working in manufacturing because ‘if you see it, you can be it’. “Some workplaces are now seeing increased female participation, and that’s the trend we want to accelerate across the entire manufacturing sector.” The influencers will be visiting schools across Queensland and speaking at community forums and industry events to inspire the next generation, promote MSQ’s training and mentoring programs, and campaign for more women in manufacturing. Influencer Rebecca Linwood works at a leading rail and transit systems business in Maryborough and is known as the ‘safety lady’. “At our facility, more than 10 per cent of the workforce are women, working across boiler making, fitter and turner, safety, finance, purchasing, design and engineering,” Ms Linwood said. “Manufacturing can be fast-paced, exciting, and something you can be proud of. You can be yourself and still play an integral role in making manufacturing happen.” Around 170,000 people work in manufacturing across Queensland. MSQ delivers targeted workforce development programs to support manufacturers in building capability and addressing critical skills gaps across the sector. Creative technologist Steph Piper is based at the University of Southern Queensland and runs the Library Makerspace where students learn about manufacturing skills like 3D […]