Stage one calls for an increase in plant capacity at Paulsens from 350,000 to 450,000 mt/y, allowing gold production to increase from the current level of 75,000 to 80,000 oz/y to 100,000 oz/y. Feed for the expanded plant will be supplied initially from near-mine resources at Paulsens and after about three years from free-milling ore at Ashburton. An A$20-million exploration program is currently under way to expand free-milling Ashburton resources.

Stage two will involve development of Ashburton sulphide resources, which currently stand at 576,000 oz. Preliminary planning calls for development of a standalone sulphide operation producing 100,000 oz/y of gold.