Two of Western Australia's major gold miners are grappling with significant operational disruptions, with a severe bushfire damaging critical infrastructure at the nation's largest gold mine and a separate safety incident halting development at a high-grade project in the Goldfields.
Bushfire Rages at Boddington, Halving Processing Rates
A Christmas Eve bushfire near Perth has forced Newmont's massive Boddington gold mine to slash its processing output by nearly half. The blaze, which sparked on 24 December 2025, led to the evacuation of both the mine site and the nearby Boddington townsite.
Operations at the mine, located 120 kilometres south-east of Perth, were suspended for several days. While inspections confirmed the pit, processing plant, and tailings facility were secure, the fire inflicted serious damage on a section of the site's essential water supply pipelines.
Newmont announced on Wednesday 7 January 2026 that mining and processing have resumed. However, the processing facility will operate at only 50 to 60 per cent of its normal capacity until the water infrastructure is fully repaired. This disruption is expected to reduce gold production by approximately 60,000 ounces for the first quarter of 2026.
Investors reacted positively to the news, interpreting the impact as less severe than feared. Newmont's shares on the ASX climbed 4 per cent to $160.52 in morning trade. Boddington is Australia's most prolific gold operation, producing a staggering 574,000 ounces in the 2025 financial year.
Bellevue Gold Stumbles with Another Explosive Misfire
Meanwhile, Bellevue Gold has reported a separate setback at its namesake mine, marking at least the second explosive misfire incident at the site during 2025. The company revealed that underground development was suspended in the final week of December following a safety incident related to the management of misfires on an active development face.
The suspension delayed access to high-grade ore zones until a detailed assessment was completed. Work only resumed on 4 January 2026.
Despite this disruption, Bellevue's overall production for the December quarter remained on track. The mine yielded 37,000 ounces at a grade of 3.7 grams per tonne, keeping the company in line to meet its full-year guidance of 130,000 to 150,000 ounces for the 2026 financial year.
The news of the latest misfire and development delay spooked the market. Bellevue Gold's share price fell 5 per cent to $1.70 by mid-morning. The company has previously been under scrutiny from WA's safety regulator following similar incidents involving undetonated explosive charges.
Industry Faces Dual Challenges of Environment and Safety
These concurrent incidents highlight the diverse challenges facing Australia's critical mining sector. The Boddington fire underscores the ever-present threat extreme weather events pose to industrial infrastructure and supply chains, even for the industry's largest players.
Conversely, the repeated misfires at Bellevue Gold spotlight the paramount importance of stringent safety protocols in high-risk underground environments. Both events serve as a reminder that operational stability and safety management are crucial for maintaining production forecasts and investor confidence in the volatile resources market.
