Marridale acquires lease for seventh Envirolab installation site

Marridale Resources has completed the acquisition of a pastoral lease for the seventh installation in the Envirolab monitoring network. The lease was acquired from a private vendor. Terms are not disclosed.

The site completes the northern arm of the network and was selected on catchment grounds. It is remote from the company’s operations, and Marridale holds no mineral tenement over it or adjacent to it.

Installation seven will be larger than those commissioned to date. Where earlier installations comprise a sampling mast, a shed and a satellite uplink, this site includes materials handling, controlled storage and accommodation for rotational staff. The additional capability allows samples from across the network to be received and processed on site rather than freighted interstate, which the company expects to improve both turnaround and chain of custody.

The Envirolab programme was transferred to the Marridale Biochemical Division on 1 September and is administered from the division’s facility. Field maintenance continues to be scheduled through operations.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Byron Lee-Edwards said the acquisition was straightforward. “We said we would rather know than estimate,” he said. “Knowing turns out to have a footprint. This is that footprint, and it is a good deal smaller than a mine.”

Consistent with the rest of the network, the installation is closed to the public and will not be included in the community site visit programme. For operational reasons the site does not carry Marridale signage. Enquiries should be directed to corporate affairs and not to the site.