L and M Mining Ltd exploration manager David Manhire told the Otago Daily Times that while management positions would probably go to staff from outside Central Otago, the bulk of work would be available to skilled residents.
About 40 full-time equivalent jobs would be created throughout the breadth of the seven-year mining project, mostly in stage two, scheduled to begin next year.
"It won't be immediate but we will be working up to that [40 jobs]. The majority of jobs will be in machinery operation, management, and environmental areas, although we will need people to wash and prepare the gold, monitor the project, and deal directly with the community," he said.
A mining company had been contracted to work on at least the first stage, while L and M stepped up its own alluvial gold mining operation, largely shut down in recent years.
Although a contractor had been appointed, about two-thirds of the 40 full-time positions would be available to local residents.
"You are very well resourced in Central Otago. There's a lot of mining people there, some very good technical people, and some very good operators. We would anticipate at least two-thirds will be locals and maybe more if they're available," he said.
Since the company released its plan to start mining, Mr Manhire had been bombarded with calls from people interested in work, including those living at Earnscleugh.
"I actually think a lot of people who turned up to the public meeting in Earnscleugh last week were there because they were interested in work.
"We've had people right across the board contact us, from environmental monitors, engineers, administrators, and geologists.
"We could potentially fully staff the project without putting a single advertisement in the paper, although that's not necessarily what we'll do."
As well as direct employment, L an M would require service from local companies to refurbish its existing plant and get equipment up and running, Mr Manhire said.
Ground work on the project will start in June and mining in July.
