Riversgold Advances Northern Zone Gold Project Towards September MDCP Submission

Riversgold Clears the Path: Key Surveys Completed as Kalgoorlie Gold Project Moves Closer to Mine Development Submission

Riversgold (ASX: RGL) has announced the completion of additional Heritage and Flora/Fauna Work Area Clearance Surveys at its Northern Zone Gold Project, located 25 kilometres east of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. The surveys cover access and infrastructure corridors, removing a key regulatory prerequisite and keeping the company on track to lodge its Mine Development and Closure Proposal (MDCP) with the Department of Mines, Petroleum and Energy (DMPE) in early September 2026. The Riversgold Northern Zone Gold Project MDCP submission timeline remains firmly intact following this development.

According to the announcement dated 3 August 2026, this represents a procedural rather than a resource or drilling update. It nonetheless marks a step forward in the mine permitting process, the type of preparatory work that underpins whether a project can progress toward development on schedule.

What Was Announced and Why It Matters

The newly completed surveys extend Work Area Clearance coverage to the north and east of the Northern Zone Gold Project, targeting the land corridors required for infrastructure and site access. According to the company, these surveys assess two distinct regulatory requirements:

• Heritage Clearance: Identifies and documents any Aboriginal cultural heritage sites within the proposed work areas, a legal requirement in Western Australia before ground disturbance can occur.
• Flora and Fauna Clearance: Surveys for protected plant and animal species that may be present in areas earmarked for infrastructure use.

Together, these clearances are intended to support the unrestricted use of access and infrastructure corridors, described by the company as a practical requirement for progressing infrastructure planning.

"The completion of these additional Heritage and Flora/Fauna surveys is an important step in unlocking unfettered access to the Northern Zone Gold Project. With these corridors now cleared, we can progress infrastructure planning with confidence and remain firmly on track to submit our Mine Development and Closure Proposal to the Department of Mines Petroleum and Energy (DMPE) in early September."

— Ed Mead, Non-Executive Director, Riversgold

Understanding the MDCP: A Key Concept for Investors

What Is a Mine Development and Closure Proposal (MDCP)?

An MDCP is a formal regulatory submission required in Western Australia before a mining operation can commence. It is submitted to the DMPE and sets out how the mine will be developed and operated, what environmental management measures will be in place, and how the site will be rehabilitated and closed at the end of its operational life.

Why Does It Matter to Investors?

The MDCP submission is considered a gateway milestone in the Western Australian mining approvals process. Lodging the MDCP indicates that a company has completed the preparatory groundwork, including heritage and environmental surveys, and is ready for formal regulatory review.

Approval of an MDCP is generally one of the final steps before a new mine can move into development. For Riversgold, reaching this submission point in September 2026 would represent a notable milestone for the Northern Zone project, though approval itself remains subject to DMPE assessment.

Where the Northern Zone Project Sits

The Northern Zone Gold Project forms part of Riversgold's broader Kalgoorlie Gold Project, positioned within one of Australia's most established gold mining regions. Furthermore, its strategic location lends considerable practical advantages to the project's development outlook.

Key location attributes disclosed in the announcement include:

• Location 25 km east of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
• Proximity to the Kalgoorlie Super Pit (Golden Mile/Fimiston), one of Australia's largest open-pit gold mines
• Situation within an established mining jurisdiction with existing infrastructure and a long history of gold production
• Classification as an Intrusive Hosted Gold Project, referring to gold mineralisation associated with igneous intrusive rock bodies

Proximity to Kalgoorlie is a relevant factor for project planning. The region has existing road networks, power infrastructure, processing facilities, and an established mining workforce, all of which may reduce the capital and logistical complexity typically associated with developing a project in a more remote setting.

What Comes Next: The Path to MDCP Submission

Riversgold has outlined a near-term pathway, with the completion of these surveys representing the most recent milestone achieved according to the announcement. The Riversgold Northern Zone Gold Project MDCP submission timeline, as outlined below, reflects steady and methodical progress.

The company has stated that final survey reporting deliverables are expected shortly and will be incorporated into the MDCP documentation. The submission remains on schedule, according to Riversgold, for early September 2026.

The Investment Case: Incremental Step, Meaningful Progress

For investors tracking Riversgold, this announcement is best understood within the broader permitting context. Milestones such as survey completions rarely attract significant attention, but they form part of the documentation required before development timelines can be finalised.

Projects that encounter delays in permitting, whether due to heritage findings, environmental constraints, or incomplete documentation, can face setbacks that affect development schedules. Consequently, completing these clearance surveys ahead of the stated MDCP submission timeframe is a positive indicator.

By completing these clearance surveys, Riversgold has demonstrated several points relevant to its permitting progress:

1. Scheduled execution – surveys completed with the MDCP submission date maintained at early September 2026.
2. Regulatory preparedness – the company is addressing requirements that the DMPE is expected to review as part of any mine development proposal.
3. Infrastructure corridor clarity – with access and infrastructure corridors surveyed, planning for physical development can proceed with the benefit of this information.
4. Location context – proximity to Kalgoorlie means the project sits within a region with established infrastructure, a factor that may support future development planning.

Why Investors Should Watch Riversgold

The near-term catalyst identified by the company is the MDCP submission to the DMPE, targeted for early September 2026. This is a defined, time-bound milestone that Riversgold has committed to, and based on progress reported to date, the company describes itself as on schedule to deliver it.

For investors following junior gold developers, Riversgold's update highlights several features relevant to the Northern Zone project:

• A defined near-term regulatory milestone in the MDCP submission
• A location within an established Western Australian gold mining region, approximately 25 km from the Kalgoorlie Super Pit
• A methodical approach to clearing regulatory prerequisites, with heritage and environmental surveys now extended to cover infrastructure corridors
• A stated timeline progressing from the current permitting phase toward potential mine development

"Riversgold has advanced its Northern Zone Gold Project toward the MDCP submission planned for early September 2026. With Heritage and Flora/Fauna surveys now completed across access and infrastructure corridors, the company has addressed a further regulatory prerequisite ahead of formal mine development review for the project."

The coming weeks are likely to be significant for Riversgold as final survey reports are delivered and incorporated into the MDCP package. Investors following the junior gold development sector may wish to monitor the formal lodgement announcement, which would mark the transition from preparation to active regulatory assessment. In this respect, the Riversgold Northern Zone Gold Project MDCP submission timeline represents one of the more clearly defined near-term milestones in the junior gold space, making it a development worth watching closely.

Ready to Follow Riversgold's Path to Mine Development?

Riversgold (ASX: RGL) is advancing its Northern Zone Gold Project toward a landmark regulatory milestone, with its Mine Development and Closure Proposal on track for submission in early September 2026. For investors seeking exposure to a junior gold developer operating in one of Australia's most established mining regions, this is a project worth watching closely. To learn more about Riversgold and the Northern Zone Gold Project, visit www.riversgold.com.au.