General News
7 August, 2023
Mine puts farmers' futures in jeopardy
Dooen landowner Luke Molyneaux will be forced to vacate his home for up to seven years if Avonbank rare-minerals mining development gets the go-ahead from the state government. Up to eight households could be affected during mining in the Dooen-Jung...
Dooen landowner Luke Molyneaux will be forced to vacate his home for up to seven years if Avonbank rare-minerals mining development gets the go-ahead from the state government.
Up to eight households could be affected during mining in the Dooen-Jung area.
Mr Molyneaux has many other issues he plans to raise at a hearing in Horsham which started this week.
A state government-appointed panel is hearing concerns and comments from landowners and other interested parties on the mine, planned by WIM Resource north-east of Horsham.
This follows an Environmental Effects Statement released earlier this year and a Directions Hearing on June 16.
Project Inquiry and Advisory Committee Panel members are chair Lisa Kendal, Phil West and Catherine Wilson. The inquiry could last four weeks and includes personal and online interviews.
Ms Kendal is a Planning Panels Victoria senior member while all three have a strong background in environmental and planning issues.
Landholders and other interested parties made about 170 submissions on the Avonbank mine before the closing date of May 26.
The panel's report is expected before October, or 40 business days from the last day of proceedings.
Mr Molyneaux will tell the hearing that trial cropping results by the mine on 24 hectares (60 acres) of his land failed to present an accurate picture of production rates of land disturbed by mining.
"I also want to question the mine's rehabilitation practices because I've talked to farmers in other parts of the state whose land was mined and what they were told was not what happened," he said.
Mr Molyneaux, who is representing himself before the panel, said Avonbank officials had told him he would have to leave his house.
"They've told me because of the noise and dust that it will be impossible to live in my house once they begin mining," he said.
Land near his home is earmarked for mining over six or seven years - then a second section, on land owned by neighbouring farmers, is earmarked for about 20 years' mining.
He is also concerned about lack of support from Horsham Rural City Council after relaying his concerns.
Earlier this year council signed a Memorandum of Understanding, ensuring a collaborative relationship between it and the mining company.
Also that a processing plant would take another 30 hectares of land out of production.
If given state government go-ahead, Avonbank could become the largest and most lucrative mineral-sands mine in the region, adding about 650 jobs and millions of dollars annually to the area's income over a 30-year span.
It would allow Horsham to boast four of the world's largest sand-mining projects, all within a 70km radius.
The Avonbank zircon and rare-earth mine is set for 3546 hectares of land east and north of Dooen and about 15 kilometres north east of Horsham.
The deposit contains about 300 million tonnes of ore with a zircon and titanium-rich mineral concentrate, as well as minor amounts of rare-earth products.
All are keenly sought for production of household and personal items.
General concerns about the project include prime agricultural land being taken out of production for several years, ability to rehabilitate land to before-mining condition, wear and tear on roads, availability of mine workers, housing for mine workers, availability of trucks, sufficient water supplies and workers choosing mining jobs over ones in agriculture or agricultural industries.