Gold Fields positive on Agnew and St Ives in Western Australia SOUTH Africa-based gold mining major Gold Fields has spelled out a brighter future for its operations in Western Australia, detailing a big improvement in the economics of its Agnew mine and an increased mine life at the St Ives operation. Speaking at the Mining Indaba forum in Cape Town on Tuesday, Gold Fields chief executive Nicholas Holland said the move from contractor mining to owner mining at Agnew and a decision to focus on the higher grade Kim orebody had turned around the profitability of the operation.