Ausgold Limited (ASX: AUC) has reached two critical milestones in the development of its Katanning Gold Project in Western Australia. The company confirmed that the state’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has authorized the Environmental Review Document for public release. Simultaneously, the developer secured three new mining leases, completing the land tenure required to move the project toward construction.

The authorization from the EPA launches a 21-day public consultation period, a central component of the project's regulatory approval pathway. The Environmental Review Document outlines the proposed operations, environmental impacts, and the associated management strategies for the site. Following the review period, the regulator will assess any public submissions before finalising its recommendations for the project.

"The approval to progress the KGP Environmental Review Document to the public release phase is an important step in the overall permitting process for the project. The approval of these new mining leases means that the Company now has granted mining tenure over the whole extent of the planned KGP development."

— John Dorward, Executive Chairman

The newly granted mining leases cover approximately 1,100 hectares of land that the company acquired last year. These leases provide the legal rights necessary to conduct mining operations across the full footprint of the planned development. With tenure now secured, the company is also progressing its Works Approval application, which is currently under assessment by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

These regulatory achievements align with the company’s broader development timeline. Ausgold continues to target a final investment decision by late 2026, with the goal of achieving first gold production by mid-2028. To support these objectives and manage the technical complexity of the project, the board recently appointed a dedicated Project Director in June 2026 to lead the development team.

The project benefits from a relatively straightforward environmental profile, as much of the proposed site is located on previously cleared agricultural land. Ausgold intends to host a series of public consultation events in the coming weeks to engage with the community during the review phase. By clearing these permitting hurdles, the developer is steadily moving the project closer to an internal production decision. As the environmental and land tenure streams advance, the focus shifts toward completing the final remaining approvals necessary to transition the asset from the development stage toward full-scale mine construction.

Read the full announcement: Key Permitting Milestones Achieved