During one of the webcasts I asked during the open question time...

During one of the webcasts I asked during the open question time about how things would funded - and Steve was clear that it would be funded by a CR.
I do note that it serves as a good bit of PR when they are announced, with a few mines spiking in popularity when CRs are on the table. Maybe it's extended media coverage that does it, or the fact that it's confirming things are underway.

Re the mining start date, Steve was very clear in the podcast about starting mining before the end of the financial year. These will be interesting times.