Southern Cross Goldfields Limited proposes to develop an open pit gold mine operation and gold processing plant 150 kilometres north of Southern Cross.

The proposal would involve mining 1.6 million tonnes (Mt) of ore and 8.2 Mt of waste rock over a life of 2.5 years at three pit locations; Marda Central, King Brown and Golden Orb. The processing plant, tailings storage facility, and two out of four of the waste rock landforms would be located at Marda Central. The remaining two waste rock landforms would be located adjacent to the King Brown and Golden Orb pits. Part of Marda Central is also located within a proposed 5(1)(h) Conservation and Mining reserve managed by the Department of Parks and Wildlife.