General News
7 May, 2025
HRCC lodge submission for mine
Horsham Rural City Council endorsed a prepared submission to Resource Victoria at the April meeting in the assessment of a mining licence for WIM Resource PL.
The submission was based primarily on the feedback council received at the community meeting earlier in the month and was initiated by Resources Victoria, which received a Mining Licence application from WIM Resource Pty Ltd for their Avonbank project at Dooen near Horsham.
The council agenda stated the Avonbank project planned to mine heavy minerals sands, which included proven quantities of zircon, titanium, and rare earth elements, 8 kilometres north-east of Horsham.
A mining licence is considered under the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 (the Act) and requires the Minister for Energy Resources' approval.
The agenda stated, "The proposed Mineral Sands Mine is a significant development for Horsham Rural City municipality and the Wimmera region, but it is important that the social, environmental, and economic impacts are appropriately considered and managed to the world's best practice."
Council has requested in its submission that the separation distances around the mine be increased to two kilometres, which would set a precedent for all mining projects in the Wimmera region if successful.
An additional part of Council's submissions focused on the WIM Base Area and stated it should be included in the mining licence area so that the same regulatory frameworks were applied to the processing plant and that the State Government should be the regulatory authority for all mining activity and not HRCC.
Council pointed out that the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal was included in the mining licence area despite no mining activity or connection to rail being proposed at this stage.
Accordingly, it is appropriate to request that it be removed from the mining licence due to its primary role as a freight terminal, council ownership, strategic importance to the region, and need for it to operate independently of any mining licence.
Council's request that the WBA be included in the licence area and the WIFT be excluded was raised at the community meeting at Dooen in April.
Council's submission detailed requirements on the MC Haulage route, a Traffic Management Plan, the progressive rehabilitation of local roads, Landscape screening, Real time continuous air quality monitoring, Radiation Management Plan, Agricultural baseline assessment, Targeted community and workforce support programs, Workforce Accommodation Strategy, Rehabilitation Plan, Land Access Agreements or Land Purchase, and a contingency plan for unplanned closure.
Council concluded that the regulation of mining was critical to ensuring the economic benefits of mining were not outweighed by the social and environmental impacts, and that Council should seek assurance that the legislative requirements outlined in its submission would be met and a licence was issued that the Earth Resources Regulator would commit to resources in the region to appropriately engage with community and monitor any licence issued.
The submission was successfully carried by all councillors present.
Cr Todd Wilson left chambers during the discussion and motion due to what he cited was a conflict of interest.
