Hawkeswood Mining general manager Simon Johnstone said everything was going according to plan at the site about 2km from Millers Flat village, near the banks of the Clutha River.
A staff of 28 were running the operation which, while yielding less gold than pre-mining drilling predicted, was still producing plenty, Mr Johnstone said.
Engineers, mechanics, dredge operators, heavy machinery operators and compliance and office staff were all employed, many living near the mine site.
There were five other staff working for the company in Alexandra, he said.
The project is set to last for 10 years.
Huge stockpiles of earth removed and stored for remediation blocked the view into the mine from the first viewing platform on the cycle trail but as work progressed and the work site moved that would change.
By summer a viewing platform would be rebuilt, and visitors would be able to watch the action below.
One of the sites already mined would be ready for spring grass planting as work progressed to other areas, Mr Johnstone said.
Material was trucked to the floating work platform, where it was processed. While the work platform was floating in water it was not actually dredging.
