Sunday Creek Fires First Underground Decline in 20 Years, A Rare Milestone for Victoria's Mining Renaissance

Southern Cross Gold Consolidated has fired the first cut in the underground decline at its Sunday Creek project in Victoria marking the first new decline developed in the state in approximately 20 years. The milestone follows Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan's public endorsement of the project as a critical minerals jobs opportunity.

Victoria's mining industry has a moment to celebrate.

Sixty kilometres north of Melbourne, Southern Cross Gold Consolidated has fired the first cut in the underground exploration decline at its Sunday Creek gold-antimony project. It is the first new underground decline to be developed in Victoria in approximately 20 years.

The milestone comes seven months after Resources Victoria approved the work plan in November 2025 and follows Premier Jacinta Allan's public endorsement of Sunday Creek as a critical minerals jobs opportunity . Mining contractor PYBAR Mining Services fired the cut safely and on schedule.

"The firing of the first cut went as planned and was executed safely," said Southern Cross Gold president and CEO Michael Hudson. "Beyond this being a significant milestone for Sunday Creek, it is a significant milestone for the broader Victorian mining industry. Many people in our sector never get the opportunity to be part of something like this in their career."

The decline, once completed by year-end, will extend approximately 680 metres to reach a vertical depth of about 115 metres. It is fundamentally about one thing: accelerating drilling. The project currently operates 11 surface rigs. Once underground platforms are established, that will scale to 24 rigs working concurrently positioning Sunday Creek as one of the largest pre-development drill-outs globally.

"The firing of the first cut is a significant milestone for the project, but also more broadly for the mining industry, with this being the first new underground decline developed in Victoria in the last 20 or so years," said PYBAR general manager James Glover, who attended the site for the blast. "Many people in the sector never get the opportunity to be involved in something like this in their career. The PYBAR team is very excited and proud to be a part of it"

The project has attracted attention not just for its gold but for its antimony a critical mineral for defence, semiconductors, and the energy transition. China controls approximately 56 per cent of global antimony supply, and Sunday Creek is being positioned as a potential significant Western world supplier.

Here is the question this milestone raises. After two decades without a new underground decline in Victoria, Sunday Creek's first cut signals a potential turning point for the state's mining sector. But with secondary approvals still to be secured and a billion-dollar investment decision pending, can Sunday Creek make the jump from exploration milestone to operating mine or is this just the beginning of a much longer story?

As Sunday Creek fires its first underground decline in 20 years, The Silicon Review asks a final question. When a project fires its first cut and the Premier calls it a jobs opportunity, is this the moment Victoria's mining renaissance becomes real or just a glimpse of what could be?

FAQ:

Q: What is the Sunday Creek project?
A: Sunday Creek is a gold-antimony project located approximately 60 kilometres north of Melbourne, Victoria. It is being developed by Southern Cross Gold Consolidated and has the potential to become a significant Western supplier of antimony.

Q: Why is the Sunday Creek decline significant?
A: It is the first new underground decline developed in Victoria in approximately 20 years, marking a major milestone for the state's mining industry.

Q: How deep will the Sunday Creek decline go?
A: The decline will extend approximately 680 metres to reach a vertical depth of about 115 metres, with around 1,200 metres of lateral development to establish underground drilling platforms.

Q: How many drill rigs will operate at Sunday Creek after the decline is complete?
A: The project currently has 11 surface rigs. Once underground development is complete, this will scale to 24 rigs working concurrently one of the largest pre-development drill programs globally.

Q: What is antimony and why does it matter?
A: Antimony is a critical mineral used in defence, semiconductors, solar panels, batteries, and flame retardants. China claims a 56 per cent share of global mined supply, making alternative sources strategically important.

Q: When will the decline be completed?
A: The decline is targeted for completion by the end of 2026, with first underground rigs expected to be mobilised in October.