General News
13 December, 2024
State signs off on Avonbank
Horsham's Avonbank Mineral Sands Project has taken a significant step forward with the Victorian Government signing off on its environmental effects statement (EES).
On Tuesday State Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny gave the go-ahead to WIM Resource's proposal, subject to certain conditions being met.
The company now awaits the granting of a mining licence and the approval of its mine work plan, involving consultation with the community.
The project must also be pass inspection by the federal government under the Commonwealth's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999.
Avonbank was one of two mines to progress through the EES stage this week, the other being the Goschen Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project near Swan Hill.
They are the first mineral sands mines to be green-lit by Victoria since 2008.
"The Avonbank Mineral Sands Project ... would produce around 311 million tonnes of minerals including zircon, titanium and rare earth minerals," Ms Kilkenny said.
"The project would deliver a $3.5 billion economic boost to the region and boost industries across the state by a further $15 billion."
However, while the state government has supported the project thus far, Member for Mallee Anne Webster said on Wednesday that this "isn’t the end of the matter".
"It is disheartening that major decisions affecting Mallee and Wimmera farmers concerning mineral sands projects have occurred across successive years during both the cropping harvest and Christmas seasons,” Dr Webster said.
“The conclusion of the Victorian EES process now activates federal review on environmental and radiation grounds.
"The likely EPBC considerations for both projects are threatened species and radiation elements."
Dr Webster said she wrote on Tuesday afternoon to federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and Shadow Minister Jono Duniam "to highlight the two projects’ significant concerns that must be considered by the current, or potentially future, minister".
“The timeline for EPBC review, as I understand it, is for the Victorian minister to now refer the projects to Minister Plibersek, who must obtain a report from the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCEEW).
"Once DCEEW delivers that report to the minister, the minister must decide within around 20 to 40 days what conditions to impose on the projects to prevent significant adverse environmental impacts."
Dr Webster said she had been advised that under Victorian mining law, "if a mining licence is approved, farmers can apply to the Victorian minister to exclude their farm from the licence".
"The minister can exclude the land if the mining licensee consents to the exclusion or if there would be a greater economic benefit to Victoria in continuing agricultural use of the land."