‘Lives are about to change forever’: Farmer fury at new mine

Local farmers are “furious, shocked and disappointed” after one of the world’s largest rare earth mines was approved near a tiny Victorian town. See the latest.

Western Victorian farmers have been left “shocked and disappointed” by the approval of a proposed rare earths mine that will cover more than 2500ha of arable farmland in the state’s Wimmera wheatbelt region.

In an announcement to the ASX on Wednesday, Astron Limited said its Donald Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project had been approved by the Victorian government - the final major regulatory milestone of the project.

Located between Minyip and Donald in Victoria’s west, the project’s mining licence spans 2500ha in the region, with a further 40,000ha of mainly agricultural land under exploration.

VFF grains director Ryan Milgate, whose farm is just 3.5km from the proposed project, said local landholders were devastated by news of the approval.

“People are furious, shocked and disappointed. Myself and others, we only found out yesterday from the media,” he said.

Western Victorian farmer and VFF grains director Ryan Milgate. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

“Astron have two community engagement officers in Minyip and they can’t even drive the 13km to tell people their lives are about to change forever.”

Mr Milgate said he and other local landholders had had little engagement with Astron since the Minyip community opposed the project due to concerns about rare earth dust contamination of crops, water use and the strain on local housing, healthcare and roads.

“One of the main concerns is the rehabilitation of the soils. These are unique soil types and we don’t believe that they will ever be able to be rehabilitated back to their current form,” Mr Milgate said.

“In agriculture we are creating wealth, but this mine is taking the resources that can’t be renewed and creating wealth overseas. It’s selling our soul.”

Mine Free Mallee Farms, Mine Free Wimmera Farms, and Dunmunkle Land Protection Group stand in opposition to mine development in the region. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

The rare earths mine is a joint venture between Astron Corporation Ltd and US critical minerals company Energy Fuels Inc, which poured in $183m to help fund the development last year.

Rare earth elements, including neodymium and praseodymium, are used to build magnets for wind turbines and electric vehicles. Astron plans to run a 7.5 million tonne a year mining operation, producing 200,000 to 250,000 tonnes per year of heavy mineral concentrate and about 7000 to 8000 tonnes a year of rare earth element concentrate.

Mining is planned to take place across more than 1000ha of prime farmland until 2068, making it one of the world’s largest rare earth mines.

“We are pleased to receive the Victorian government’s approval for our Work Plan. It is the result of years of planning, environmental assessment, and community engagement,” Donald Mineral Sands managing director Tiger Brown said.

“We are committed to responsible environmental practice in the development and operation of the Donald Project - and excited for the regional growth, benefits, and opportunities it will generate over the decades.”

The project has a Phase One lifespan of 42 years, which will see rare earths concentrate from the Donald site shipped to Energy Fuels’ White Mesa Mill processing facility.

Originally published as ‘Lives are about to change forever’: Farmer fury at new mine