en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Queensland Government, through the Critical Minerals Fund managed by the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), has committed A$15 million to accelerate the redevelopment of the historic Mount Chalmers mine. This is a significant step to restart production at this long-idle copper mine project and strengthen the state's critical minerals sector.

This investment will support QMines in advancing the project, located 17 kilometers northeast of Rockhampton. The company aims to develop over 19 million tonnes of mineral resources containing copper, gold, zinc, and silver.

The funding is expected to accelerate the development of the former mine, which has been idle for over 40 years, while creating hundreds of regional jobs as operations progress.

The announcement comes as the Queensland Government committed an additional A$100 million in the 2026-27 state budget to expand the Critical Minerals Fund, demonstrating ongoing support for projects aimed at strengthening the state's role in supplying critical minerals for the global energy transition.

Queensland Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, Ros Bates, stated that this investment will unlock not only mineral resources but also bring jobs and long-term opportunities back to the region, accelerating this high-potential project to create growth in central Queensland and supply globally demanded critical minerals.

Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Dale Last, noted that recommissioning abandoned mines creates opportunities for investment, production, and regional jobs, unlocking new opportunities, restarting operations, and giving promising resource projects the confidence to move from exploration to production.

QMines Chairman and Managing Director, Andrew Sparke, described the funding as a significant milestone for the project. Mount Chalmers has a long history dating back approximately 160 years, and its development strategy focuses on positioning the project and community for the future. A phased approach will enable efficient production start-up while establishing long-term operations to support sustained employment and regional growth. Sparke noted that copper is critical to the global energy transition, and projects like Mount Chalmers will help ensure Queensland remains a reliable supplier of these important resources.