Vol. 16 No. 43
FREE PUBLICATION
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Mining money
Rail project gets the nod
T
he State Government has confirmed a $15-million boost to help explore the mining potential of mineral deposits across Victoria, including the Wimmera. It announced a new TARGET program, which involves co-funding exploration with private companies searching for minerals, as part of its 2014-15 State Budget. The news quickly followed a State Government announcement at the weekend that a $220-million Murray Basin Rail Project would include a $41-million upgrade to Hopetoun-Murtoa and Mildura-Maryborough railfreight lines. Energy and Resources Minister Russell Northe said the new TARGET program would focus on the state’s west, northeast and north. “Victoria was built on its rich mineral resources with the 1850s gold rush quickly putting our great state on the global map and driving a flourishing economy with vibrant local communities,” he said. “The government will work with industry to drive exploration and development of new mineral resources. “We are investing to build a strong and sustainable mining industry inVictoria that creates more jobs and makes
a significant long-term contribution to the economy while protecting the environment, respecting the rights of landholders and working with other key industries like agriculture.” The Wimmera is in the state mining spotlight with firms having either identified or heavily scrutinising parts of the region for significant deposits of mineral sand, copper and gold. Under the TARGET program, grants will be available for co-funded exploration work including drilling and geoscience surveys. A panel will provide advice on the granting of money and activities carried out under program guidelines. Geological Survey of Victoria data will be available online to other exploration and mining companies.
Potential
The government’s Murray Basin Rail Project, meanwhile, involves upgrading key rail-freight tracks and constructing a Mildura-Geelong standardisation link. A lack of standardised rail tracks across Victoria has longbeen a major obstacle to rail services. The project is designed to ‘revolutionise’ the movement of freight across the state and ‘unlock the economic potential’ of regional and rural Victoria. Mr Ryan said the Mildura-
IN THIS ISSUE
Geelong standardised rail link was scheduled to be finished by 2018. “This landmark project is more than a century in the waiting,” Mr Ryan said. “The Murray Basin is one of the nation’s leading food production regions, exporting more than $3-billion worth of food products and mineral resources a year. “By converting the existing broad-gauge tracks to standard gauge, the project will transform Victoria’s freight network to meet the increasing demand for freight services. “The project involves building and upgrading freight lines to 21-tonne axle loading, providing an immediate 15 percent productivity improvement that will increase train loads by 300 to 400 tonnes. “It will improve transport efficiency and enhance access to the ports.” The government also allocated money in the budget to plan for a Western Highway bypass of Ararat and Beaufort and confirmed redevelopment funding for Horsham College. Budget announcements also included money to start the planning process for the Warracknabeal Regeneration project, which will co-locate the town’s primary, specialist development and secondary schools on the same site.
ENTERTAINMENT AND A STOMPIN’ GOOD TIME: The Grampians Grape Escape attracted thousands of people on the weekend, all to sample the region’s finest wine and food. Cooking demonstrations by chefs across the Grampians region and entertainment for the whole family kept the crowds rolling into Halls Gap for Victoria’s longest running food and wine festival. Pictured, above, are the Public Mischief Stilt Walkers, and left, Eugene Reid-Spinks, 11, from Halls Gap.
• Lights for oval • ‘Dark matter’ mine hope • Drug forum • Sport wrap
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