Shire ire: Mining projects face push back
More than 150 farmers have blocked trenching work at a Victorian mineral sands project as community resistance escalates across three major mining developments.
Installation stoppages, town hall meetings and a rural council against a mining project; Victoria’s mineral sands mining projects are facing widespread community ire this week.
Horsham Rural City Council called for “urgent clarification” from the state government on Wednesday about the proposed Avonbank project at Dooen.
The WIM Resource-led project remains under statutory review after the state government received more than 830 submissions in April.
A council statement said it had “little confidence” in the company’s rehabilitation trials and would be unsupportive of the project until it could prove environmental safety, community fairness and long-term benefits.
It sought clarification on the mining licence boundaries and scope, compliance mechanisms, land rehabilitation effectiveness and accountability, and adherence to the Mineral Resources Act (Sustainable Development) 1990.
“This mine will impact our region for generations, and we demand firm, enforceable commitments that protect our community, our farmland, and our future,” HRCC acting mayor Brian Klowss said.
He said the council understood a decision on the licence “may be” given in the coming weeks, and mitigation measures should be progressed before a final decision to alleviate community concerns.
A Victorian Government spokesperson said Resources Victoria was unable to comment while the assessment was underway.
About 50km northeast of the Dooen project, Wimmera farmers forced new trenching work to stop at the nearby Donald Mineral Sands Project.
The Astron Corporation-led project had contractors working to install the water pipeline between the Minyip Rural Pump Station and the mining site on Monday, when farmers interrupted the new works.
Rally organiser and Rupanyup farmer Paul Oxbrow said the last-minute rally had about 150 people and 80 machines gather at the worksite.
“There was a lot of frustration, not only locally but right across the state and the country,” he said.
“I had a farmer call me (beforehand) quite distressed, the activity of the pipeline made it seem real.
“It kicked me into gear to instigate a gathering, a picnic-type atmosphere to bring people and businesses together to realise we have each others’ backs and send a message to the powers that be that we don’t want this happening in our food bowl.”
Donald Project operations general manager Grant Huggins said the company would continue to engage with the community as the project progressed.
“People have different views – we respect that,” he said. “We thank the Dunmunkle Land Protection Group for voicing their concerns peacefully.”
Meanwhile at Gippsland, an anti-mining group has hosted its own community meeting at Bairnsdale about a re-scoped Fingerboards Mineral Sands project.
Mine Free Glenaladale spokesperson Robyn Grant said about 170 people attended the meeting.
“We have written to (Gippsland Critical Minerals) with all our concerns,” she said.
“We’ve received responses but nothing that answers the questions we put forward.
“From the start we wanted everything in writing because of our (prior) experience, and we wouldn’t meet with them as a group.”
Ms Grant said the group had called on Resources Victoria and relevant ministers to visit the region.
GCM did not participate in the town hall meeting and said the format failed to meet best practices.
A GCM spokesperson said 126 people had attended the company-led webinars and drop-in sessions so far. They said there had been 312 one-on-one meetings, 465 phone calls and 339 people reaching out online.
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