Gold miner Brightstar Resources has delivered a positive definitive feasibility study (DFS) for its Menzies and Laverton projects in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields, mapping out a staged development pathway aimed at transforming the junior into a midtier producer.

The study, based on a combined 1.5-million-ounce resource base, supports an initial five-year production plan averaging 70 000 oz/y, with first gold targeted in the first half of calendar 2026.

“The delivery of this study is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our team and stakeholders, being a combination of two complementary asset bases in the Eastern Goldfields of WA,” said Brightstar MD Alex Rovira. “In parallel with our existing underground mining operations, the study outlines a low-capital and staged approach to building Brightstar into a meaningful midtier gold miner focused on the Tier-1 area of Western Australia.”

The development will begin with the Lady Shenton openpit at Menzies, leveraging a processing agreement with Paddington Gold to fast-track early cashflow while longer-term infrastructure is developed. A new one-million-tonne-a-year carbon-in-leach processing plant is planned south-east of Laverton.

The DFS outlines a pre-tax net present value of A$316-million and an internal rate of return of 73% at a gold price of A$5 000/oz. Payback of pre-production capital is expected within one year of commissioning the Laverton plant.

“The intent of the study is clear – move our Menzies and Laverton assets into production while undertaking significant contemporaneous exploration and development activities that support continued production growth and mine life extensions,” Rovira said.

Brightstar’s long-term vision includes expanding gold production to more than 200 000 oz/y, with the Menzies and Laverton projects generating the free cash flow needed to develop the Sandstone gold project.

“Brightstar has the vision that the gold production from Menzies and Laverton outlined in the study is targeted to provide the organic free cash flow required to develop the significant Sandstone gold project in the coming years, underpinning our aspiration of building a 200 000 oz/y gold production business,” Rovira said.

Brightstar also flagged potential extensions to the mine life through further drilling and upgrading of inferred resources, as well as exploring inorganic growth opportunities in the Leonora-Laverton district.

The company is currently undertaking drilling to convert mineral resources at Yunndaga to higher confidence categories and is also assessing an owner-operator model for openpit mining, expected to deliver cost savings.

“It is an exciting time to be an expanding gold producer and we look forward to sharing positive news flow with our stakeholders as we build towards our ‘TARGET200’ objective from our Goldfields and Murchison assets,” Rovira added.