
Community Notice
Notice of Application for an Exploration Licence (EL007029)
On 3 March 2022, Centennial Mining Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kaiser Reef Limited, lodged an Exploration Licence Application in the vicinity of the town of Maldon, Victoria, as shown on the location map below. The application for Exploration Licence No 007029 is located adjacent to the town of Maldon, 35km southwest of Bendigo and covers an area of 144 square kilometres. Centennial Mining is actively exploring the area for gold mineralisation.

Location Map of EL007029
Proposed Program of Works
The following work program is planned to be completed on the Exploration application area. The structure of the exploration program is based on 4 tranched phases:
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Phase 1: Year 1 (desktop studies and digital data capture of historic exploration initiatives including any remote sensing programs and modelling);
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Phase 2: Year 2 (More advanced exploration integrating desktop studies with field data and low level exploration activities)
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Phase 3: Year 3 (Based on successful outcomes of Phases 1-2, the next initiative is to generate detailed plans relating to any prospective reefs under cover, 3 dimensional digital modelling of old workings and geology and compilation of detailed work plans for any more advanced field exploration activities. Where possible remote sensing / geophysics data may be integrated to inform modelling ; and
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Phase 4: Years 4-5 (Advancement of exploration targets, extend life of exploration licence and reduce overall area based on the location of prospective exploration targets.
The first year’s work program will be low impact exploration centered on the identification and prioritization of exploration targets based on literature review, digital capture of historic workings, mapping and GIS analysis of surface outcrop along with previous exploration results.
The exploration rationale has been informed by previous exploration initiatives that have overlapped the application area. These initiatives have included drilling, mapping / sampling and bulk sampling. The exploration license application area abuts the northern portion of MIN5528. This will enable exploration of strike extensions of the Nuggety reef and lesser understood structures part of the northern Maldon shear zone.
The past work programs of these companies will be captured digitally in both a GIS and geochemical database as part of the first year’s desktop study.
Phase 1
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Complete detailed literature review and desktop study to direct field investigations within first 3 months of the licence being granted;
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Generate GIS and geological digital database of historic exploration initiatives;
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Generate site base map;
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This includes a systematic digital capture of historic plans held in archive by CTL (the level of integration of this information by previous works is not fully understood);
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Field reconnaissance of exploration target areas and old workings;
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Identify any private land users, native title claimants and other stake holders and establish on-going community engagement relationships (as part of the overall Maldon Gold Project in conjunction with community engagement associated with MIN5146; and
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Advance the level of understanding of Exploration Target Areas 1 & 2 with a view to prioritizing technical programs and field campaigns in Year 2.
Phase 2
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Surface geological mapping and rock chip sampling in proximity to old workings across entire area of EL7029;
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Establish survey controls in suitable locations based on field reconnaissance;
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Structural geology assessment and correlation of mineralized structures from historic mine plans with a priority focus on Exploration Target Areas 1 & 2;
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Generate plans to evaluate depth of sedimentary cover over the Castlelmaine Group (Hornfels) and the contact with the Harcourt Granodiorite;
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On-going community engagement as required;
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Validation of location of old workings and underground sampling where possible; and
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Develop a first pass detailed exploration target rankings across tenement as a focus for Phase 3 exploration.
Phase 3
Phase 3 of Surface geological mapping and rock chip sampling focusing on anomalies delineated in the previous year;
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Review of rock chip and drilling assay results which will be a multi-element suite including Au, As, Cu, Cr, Ag, Pb, Bi and Mo.
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Advancement of exploration target priorities based on reviews of assay results from sampling and historic drilling programs;
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Compilation and validation of historic surface drilling;
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Generate 3d geological model of advanced exploration targets;
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Review initial areas of application for potential license reduction based on newly generated exploration targets;
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On-going community engagement as required; and
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Generate detailed Work Program and submit.
Phase 4
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Advancement of exploration target priorities and consultant reviews of results and design of further exploration programs;
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Review the suitability and potential of remote sensing geophysical techniques to advance exploration targets with a focus on the delineation of structural lineaments along strike and parallel to known lines of reef and historic production;
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Initiation of field geophysics programs (the type of program will be determined as exploration advances and understanding of the potential for targets under sedimentary cover south of the Harcourt Granodiorite);
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On-going community engagement as required.
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Determine if programs warrant exploration drilling; and
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If results indicate; apply to extend exploration over the delineated zones of mineralization based on advanced geological targets.
Year 5 will be structured according the extent of resource delineation. Advanced programs will be informed by gap analysis of the resource understanding. Years 4-5 may expand into pre-feasibility studies but are more likely to focus on more advanced exploration activities such as drilling and geophysical programs.
Environment Strategy
All rehabilitation will be carried out as soon as is practicable after exploration activities have taken place and in line with the current Guidelines for environmental management in exploration and mining. Centennial Mining will ensure all staff and contractors are aware of all site-specific environmental sensitivities, such as weeds and endangered flora and fauna and will act accordingly.
Centennial Mining are committed to minimising or where possible avoiding environmental impact and will work in accordance with the Guidelines as determined by the Victorian Government and will facilitate effective rehabilitation of all disturbed areas. No wetlands, waterways or lakes will be impacted by exploration activities.
The Community Engagement Plan
In general terms, the licensee's community engagement plan is broadly based on the following:
Identify individuals or groups which may be impacted by the operations on the licence. This would involve the compilation of a list of adjacent landowners, persons living on or in the vicinity of the licence and other community groups which may be impacted by the operations. Groups such as the Victorian Farmers Federation or the local Field Naturalists Club, Government Departments, Federal, State or local, and other government bodies such as CMA's who have a particular interest in the land on which the licence is situated should also form part of the consultation group. It will be necessary to identify the expectations or attitudes of these groups and individuals. Often a direct face to face approach is the best way to engage many members of the community. The licensee will need to assess the impact of their operation on these individuals and groups. Following the consultation, the full impact would be assessed by guidelines provided by the Department. An assessment will be made following the consultation as to what level of community input and involvement can be achieved. There are likely to be a range of matters which may need to be considered. Ideally, many of the ideas and suggestions will be mutually beneficial to both the licensee and the local community. Matters such as working hours or attitudes to working on days of high fire danger or working on hot and windy days may be matters which the local community could have views which need to be considered by the licensees.
Any contact or complaint will be noted in a complaints book, and the licensee will promptly make suitable arrangements to contact the complainant. Where possible, the matter would be settled between the two parties, but the local Inspector or the Mining Warden may be requested to assist in resolving any issue or meditating on the matter. Such interaction with the community will be used to identify any issues that may be arising from the operations on the licence and will attempt to accommodate the views of the stakeholders in dealing with any such issues. The community is welcomed for their interest and input into ensuring that there are minimum adverse effects to the amenity of the area, or the impact on the expectation of the community for the peaceful enjoyment of their local environment. The licensee is mindful of the need to maintain these exceptionally good community relations and to ensure that the channels of communication between the licence holder and the community in which it operates are kept open. All discussion with the community is based on mutual trust and respect.