Sunday Creek Project
The Sunday Creek Project is located in Central Victoria approximately 60 km north of Melbourne.
The project is focused on exploring for high-grade gold and antimony over two exploration licences (EL007232 and EL006163) and a retention licence (RL006040). Mining activities are not permitted under exploration or retention licences.
Clonbinane Goldfield Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of Southern Cross Gold Consolidated) is the licence holder.
Background
View the licence area and location on Resource Licences near me.
Low-impact exploration activities commenced in 2020. Exploration methods include underground mapping and remote sensing, magnetic and seismic surveys, and geochemical and geotechnical sampling. An initial exploration work plan that allows drilling was granted in March 2024.
In June 2025, the company submitted a work plan for the construction of an underground exploration tunnel to Resources Victoria for initial assessment.
The proposal will enable the company to better understand the area’s mineralisation as the basis for making more informed decisions about the project’s future. The location near Clonbinane is covered by RL006040 and EL007232.
Current status
On 26 November 2025, Resources Victoria approved the new work plan for the underground exploration tunnel.
This marked the culmination of a detailed assessment process to ensure the work plan met all regulatory requirements and appropriate measures were in place to address any potential impacts on the community and the environment.
The work plan was also referred to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action’s Planning and Environment Assessment Branch, Environment Protection Agency (Victoria), Goulburn Murray Water and Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority for consultation on specific aspects, such as noise and air quality, surface and ground water. Mitchell Shire Council was also given the opportunity to provide comment.
Located on freehold land owned by Southern Cross Gold Consolidated, the tunnel is planned to be approximately 150 m deep and 600 m long. Access will be via a private road.
Construction is expected to take between six and nine months to complete. During this time, underground blasting will be required to tunnel through rock.
Construction of surface infrastructure, including sheds, workshops, offices, dams and the tunnel entrance, is restricted to daytime hours (7 am to 6 pm from Monday to Friday and 9 am to 1 pm Saturdays). Deliveries to the site are restricted to 8 am to 5 pm from Monday to Friday and 9 am to 12 noon on Saturday. Once underground, tunnel development and mineral exploration may be undertaken around the clock.
Following the tunnel’s construction, most exploration drilling will occur underground, reducing surface and environmental impacts. This phase will not involve blasting. Some surface drilling will also be required.
An exploration work plan granted under a retention licence does not permit mining. Any future mining activity would require a separate approval process involving community consultation.
More information about the project is available on the Community Hub on the Southern Cross Gold Consolidated website.
Community updates
Southern Cross Gold Consolidated is responsible for keeping the local community informed about its exploration activities, including upcoming activities that may impact residents and actions being undertaken to address any potential impacts.
More information is available on the Community Hub on the Southern Cross Gold Consolidated website.
Enquiries and concerns
If you have an enquiry, concern or complaint about the proposed underground exploration tunnel or current exploration activities occurring on-site, please:
Page last updated: 28 Nov 2025