Southern Cross Gold Consolidated (ASX:SX2) awarded Pybar Mining Services an underground exploration decline contract for the Sunday Creek gold-antimony project in Victoria following a competitive tender, according to a Tuesday filing with the Australian bourse.

The scope of the contract includes box-cut ground support, portal establishment, primary decline and support services installation, and initial lateral development, including diamond drilling platforms, over a period of seven months.

Once completed, the decline will enable the current 11 surface rigs at the project to be expanded to 24 surface and underground rigs, per the filing.