General News
18 April, 2025
Goschen Project mining licence approved
Resource Victoria announced on Friday, April 11 that the state's regulator had approved a mining licence for VHM Limited’s Goschen Rare Earths and Mineral Sands Project in Victoria's Mallee region.
Located 35 kilometres south of Swan Hill, the operation will mine about 1500 hectares of agricultural land and the licence is valid for 20 years.
On December 10, 2024, Planning Minister Sonia Kilkenny approved the Environmental Effects Statement for the Goschen Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project in conjunction with the proposed larger mineral sands open-cut WIM Resource Avonbank Mine at Dooen.
Both agricultural communities have strongly objected to the two mines with their Mine Free Mallee Farms and Mine Free Wimmera Farms incorporated bodies supporting each other through similar challenges and processes.
Landowners and community members have erected signage across the region saying 'no to critical mineral mining on farmland'.
The licence approval for the Goschen Project followed an assessment of VHM’s application by the Earth Resources Regulator and the completion of the EES process.
VHM Limited is a critical minerals company that aims to supply the renewable energy, green technology and battery industries.
Resource Victoria said in a prepared statement last Friday: "The Goschen project will involve mining mineral sands and rare earth, including zircon, rutile, leucoxene, ilmenite product, and rare earth minerals.
"These materials are used in a range of products, including renewable energy infrastructure, medical implants, and mobile phones."
The statement said that no mining activity could begin until the work plan was approved and operations would be guided by the plan to ensure activities were consistent with the company’s legal obligations and any conditions imposed by the regulator.
Chris Webb, Resources Victoria's executive director of regulatory operations, said when making the announcement, “In addition to the recommendations from the EES process and community feedback, our assessment focused on whether VHM can deliver what is set out in their project proposal.
“Following this thorough assessment of their application, VHM has been awarded the right to exclusively access minerals under the state’s mining legislation."
The statement said VHM had a duty to engage with the local community about its activities for the duration of the mining licence of 20 years.
The company must provide quarterly reports to the regulator about how it responds to feedback and complaints during the final design and construction phase, as well as during operations.
Federal Member for Mallee, Anne Webster said, "I have been advocating for regional communities like Lalbert affected by mining proposals and highlighting concerning aspects of the process such as consultation over busy harvest and Christmas holiday seasons.
"I am also concerned that our primary industry, agriculture, and food security are not being given due consideration.
"I understand that the state mining law requires that now a licence has been granted, farmers can then apply to be exempt from the licence," she said.
"It seems far too late in the process for farming and food security to be considered."
Dr Webster said she has been actively exploring how to ensure prime agricultural land is preserved for future generations.
"While the activation of potentially radioactive soils through mineral sands mining is a potential 'nuclear action' under Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation law, checking safety on this front is largely left up to the Victorian Government and approved by the Commonwealth," she said.
Dr Webster said she is gravely concerned about claims mining operations can adequately rehabilitate land for farming after the mine's life and hopes to bring a soil expert to Mallee in the coming months to explore how we can preserve prime agricultural land for food security and future generations.
