The Victorian government has given the go-ahead to two significant mineral sands projects, marking a pivotal moment for the state’s mining industry and regional development.
The WIM Resource Avonbank and VHM Goschen projects have received positive environmental assessments, paving the way for new jobs, skills, and economic opportunities in regional Victoria.
This decision is expected to create over 1000 jobs in regional Victoria and unlock critical minerals essential for renewable energy infrastructure, electric vehicles, and everyday technology.
Minister for Planning, Hon Sonya Kilkenny MLA, has endorsed the rigorous environmental, social, and economic assessments of the projects, marking a significant step forward for Victoria’s growing mining industry.
Mining projects in the state are subject to at least five separate legislative regimes and approval processes, overseen by multiple regulators.
These projects have undergone Victoria’s most stringent environmental assessment process, known as the Environment Effects Statement (EES).
This thorough evaluation ensures that the developments will proceed with appropriate safeguards to protect the environment, including vulnerable species and habitats.
This approval represents a major milestone for Victoria, as the last currently operating mine was permitted almost two decades ago.
The state’s return to mining mineral sands and rare earths, including critical minerals for everyday technologies, is viewed as an investment in the future.
Victoria hosts a significant portion of the Murray Basin, which contains the world’s largest known deposits of mineral sands.
The state also holds Australia’s largest share of identified resources of zircon and rutile.
As Victoria continues to break minerals exploration records, with over $632 million spent on exploration since 2020, these new projects stand ready to deliver jobs and economic opportunities in regional areas from Horsham to Swan Hill.
The approval of the Avonbank and Goschen projects marks the beginning of a new chapter in Victoria’s mining industry, promising a brighter economic future for the state’s regional communities.
