Completed

Building on the successful completion of the Stage 2 tailings lift, MLG was appointed by Gold Fields as the preferred contractor to undertake the Stage 3 tailings storage facility upgrade at Gruyere Gold Mine.

The works were delivered over eleven months, from June 2021 to April 2022, with an investment exceeding $15 million. They were executed under live operating conditions to maintain production continuity and compliance.
The scope encompassed extensive bulk earthworks across the tailings facility to form the lift, achieve design geometry, and provide stable platforms for plant and access. MLG removed existing tailings pipework and reinstated services in line with the raised embankment while the TSF remained in operation, managing interfaces to minimise downtime and safeguard process reliability.

Key structures were raised and integrated with the new lift, including the decant accessway, the decant tower, and the main access ramp, together with associated piping, mechanical installations, electrical systems, and instrumentation. A transition layer was formed between the HDPE liner keyway and the clay dam walls to improve sealing performance and reduce seepage risk, ensuring a robust connection between geosynthetic and earth structures.

Across the program, MLG delivered a range of day works to support operations, inspections, and quality control, including conditioning, placement, and compaction of construction materials to achieve density and line-and-level requirements. The project also included clearing and earthworks for a solar farm and site infrastructure to facilitate future energy initiatives.

Comprehensive QA and QC processes were applied throughout delivery, with documentation covering materials verification, compaction testing, survey control, and as-built records. The Stage 3 lift improved embankment integrity, enhanced water recovery through upgraded decant systems, and provided dependable access for operations and maintenance. Following the successful completion of Stage 3, MLG and Gold Fields entered into a three-to-five-year sole-provider agreement for Gruyere tails dam lifts, reflecting confidence in MLG’s capability and performance on site.