New Working Group to Boost Oversight of Mineral Sands Projects in Victoria
A significant development in Victoria’s approach to resource extraction, particularly concerning mineral sands projects, has seen the establishment of a new governance body. This Mineral Sands Agricultural Land Restoration Working Group has been specifically tasked with enhancing the scrutiny and requirements surrounding the rehabilitation of agricultural land impacted by proposed mines across the Wimmera Mallee region.
The composition of this crucial working group reflects a deliberate effort to bring diverse perspectives to the table. It will feature representation from key stakeholders including:
- The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF)
- The Minerals Council of Australia
- Agriculture Victoria
- Horsham Rural City Council
- Yarriambiack Shire Council
- Local Catchment Management Authorities
This multi-stakeholder approach aims to ensure that both the agricultural and resources sectors, along with land experts and local government, have a voice in shaping the future of land restoration practices.
Addressing Farmer Concerns and Ensuring Transparency
The establishment of the working group comes in response to long-standing calls from the farming community for more independent oversight of mining proposals that affect valuable agricultural land. Ryan Milgate, the incoming president of the VFF, highlighted this sentiment, emphasising the need for accountability and transparency.
“For regions looking at having a lot of mining, there needs to be some accountability and some transparency around some of the claims being made,” Mr Milgate stated. He expressed that past claims regarding mine restoration and rehabilitation have, at times, been perceived as overly optimistic or unrealistic. The presence of independent oversight, he believes, will provide greater confidence for all parties involved as projects progress.
This initiative is particularly timely, given that in October, the Federal Government designated Astron Corporation’s Donald Rare Earth and Mineral Sands project in western Victoria as a major project. This designation signifies the project’s scale and potential economic importance, underscoring the need for robust environmental and land management frameworks.
A Collaborative Approach to Coexistence
James Sorahan, the executive director of the Minerals Council of Australia’s Victorian Division, conveyed the industry’s commitment to working collaboratively with farming communities. He stressed that rehabilitation is an integral part of the mining process and that companies are keen to ensure these efforts align with the needs of the regions and contribute to shared positive outcomes.
“Rehabilitation is something that is ‘part and parcel’ of what we do, so we want to make sure it works with regions, and we’re all working together for the same outcome,” Mr Sorahan explained. He further reassured that the mining sector aims to operate in a manner that respects and protects the strong agricultural identity of these areas, asserting that mining poses no inherent threat to the established farming practices.
Safeguarding Prime Agricultural Land and Future Productivity
Gail Gatt, the chief executive of Horsham Rural City Council, views the working group as a significant step forward in refining and strengthening rehabilitation guidelines. She pointed out that historical projects in the region have encountered challenges in restoring land to its pre-mining productivity levels, a critical concern for an area boasting some of the nation’s most fertile agricultural land.
The Wimmera Southern Mallee region is recognised for its exceptionally productive agricultural land, and Ms Gatt underscored the paramount importance of ensuring that any mining footprint can be effectively rehabilitated. “It’s important that any mine footprint can be rehabilitated so that this productivity isn’t lost to future generations at the end of these projects,” she stated.
This preservation of agricultural productivity is directly linked to future food security. Ms Gatt emphasised, “This is essential to ensure food security into the future.” She also noted that for mineral sands mining to gain social license, a key challenge will be demonstrating that such operations do not come at the expense of prime agricultural land. This requires rehabilitation processes that can reliably restore land to its pre-mine productivity levels, a benchmark that proponents will need to meet to build trust and acceptance.
