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Vol. 17 No. 24
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Wednesday, December 10, 2014
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Festive spirit
Horsham Carols by Candlelight attracted a huge crowd at Horsham’s Sawyer Park on Sunday, sparking the start of community Christmas celebration events across the region. The festive season continues with a huge Stawell Christmas Festival on Friday night, including a Main Street parade followed by Carols by Candlelight at Stawell Entertainment Centre. Ararat’s iconic Carols by Candlelight, complete with its fireworks spectacular, will be at Ararat’s Alexandra Gardens on Saturday. Smaller towns are also embracing the season with carols events at Nhill’s Jaypex Park on Saturday and Kaniva Shire Hall on Sunday. Carols in the Grampians in Halls Gap and Edenhope carols will be on November 19. For more on Horsham carols, page 6. Picture: WADE MORROW
Investment mine key A
BY DEAN LAWSON
ttracting major investors is now the key for a $500-million mineral sands mine and separation plant at Drung South near Horsham becoming a reality.
Australian Zircon has finalised technical studies showing the proposed site could sustain mining activity for up to 50 years and is in the process of completing an Environmental Effects Statement. Project development manager Emma
Vogel said the company was exploring investment opportunities with a mixture of institutional, retail and ‘cornerstone’ investors. “Technical and feasibility studies have established that the project is financially robust and there is confidence that it can move forward,” she said. Chinese demand for zircon, the primary product in ceramics, has driven the project but the mine would also extract titanium and other minerals. “We are now focussing on gaining
all the necessary approvals. This has been ongoing for several years and is just entering the final stages,” Ms Vogel said. “In addition, we are working on securing the investment to build the project infrastructure and locking in buyers for the product. “Current schedules show construction of the mine and separation plant in late 2016 and operations to start in 2018. “We estimate that the construction workforce would peak at 350 jobs.
During operations there would be 170 permanent jobs on site and several contractors.”
Exhibition Ms Vogel said the technical and environmental studies had incorporated stakeholder feedback and the Environmental Effects Statement was scheduled to go on public exhibition by the middle of next year. Exploration of the mineral sands mining potential at the site dates back to 1982 with the discovery of the
Drung South WIM 150 deposit. Conzinc Riotinto Australia, through subsidiary Wimmera Industrial Minerals, established a pilot plant at the site in 1989 but scaled back production in 1992 due to technological issues and market conditions. Australian Zircon started its investigation of the WIM 150 project in 2004 and completed a Bankable Feasibility Study last year. The mineral sands at the site are the result of an ancient sea that previously covered much of the Wimmera.
IN THIS ISSUE • Ripon poll finalised • Business protest against public holiday • Dressmaker author visits Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
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