Cyclone affects mine production | National News | Breaking National News in Australia

22nd December 2009

A satellite image of Cyclone Laurence moving closer to the WA coastline.

AAP

NEWCREST Mining Ltd has ceased production at its flagship Telfer gold mine in Western Australia due to tropical cyclone Laurence.

The company said on Tuesday production at Telfer gold mine ceased at midnight last night due to heavy rain and expected gale force winds.

"The mine has fully activated its cyclone response plan and all on-site personnel are restricted to Telfer Village until further notice," it said in a statement.

"Non essential personnel were flown off site yesterday afternoon.

"The Telfer airport will remain closed today.

"At this stage production is expected to resume during the day shift on Wednesday."

Newcrest said further market updates will be provided as appropriate and if site impacts change.

The Telfer mine is located 450 kilometres east-south-east of Port Hedland.

Overnight, residents in the north west of the state endured 215 kilometre per hour winds as Laurence battered the region.

The cyclone, upgraded to category five on Monday, was moving south over the inland Pilbara.

Buildings at a caravan park on the WA coast were damaged when the cyclone hit Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park, between Port Hedland and Broome, late on Monday afternoon.

A spokeswoman for the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia (FESA) said a helicopter will survey the area on Tuesday morning to assess the damage.

Laurence was expected to weaken gradually on Tuesday, but destructive winds were still possible during the morning as the cyclone moved further inland.

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