The Weekly Advertiser – Wednesday, December 11, 2024

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Vol. No. Vol. 2718No. 2427

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Wednesday, January 11, 13, 2024 2016 Wednesday, December

ON SONG: Thousands of people joined in the festivities of Horsham’s annual Carols by Candlelight on Sunday at Sawyer Park, where a variety of traditional and contemporary Christmas carols entertained. Accidental Highnotes was among the lineup, featuring, from left, Kerry Bolwell, Natasha Kuchel, Faye Johns, Alison Rintoule, Kerry Wilson and Carly Werner. Money was raised for Wimmera Against Cancer in Kids, WACK, the total is to be finalised. More pictures, page 31. Picture: BRONWYN HASTINGS

A win for WIM BY LAUREN HENRY

W

IM Resource’s Avonbank mineral sands project at Dooen has hit a major milestone in the approval process with the State Government yesterday signing off on its Environment Effects Statement.

Planning Minister Sonia Kilkenny announced she had approved the EES for both the Avonbank project, and the Goschen Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project near Swan Hill – the first mineral sands projects to be given the green light since 2008. Further approvals are still required for both projects – such as a mining licence and mine work plan, which will involve community consultation.

The projects also require Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 approval from the Federal Government. Adjoining landowner Gavin Puls, an objector of the Avonbank mine, said he was unaware of the next step in the process because no one from the government had contacted him to give him any guidance. “There’s still a long lot of processes to go, I think, I’m not quite sure. No one knows the processes from now on. Is it the death knell? Is there more processes to go? I’ve got no idea,” he said. “This is the thing, the great unknown, like poor Donna (Johns) and a few of those ones are taking it really hard because they worked their guts

out on it. I mean, it’s hard on their mental health – it’s just shocking for those people. “It’s shocking for us, but I’ve just got one thing to do at the moment – and that’s just feed the bloody country, that’s all I can do.” Donna Johns has spent years fighting the mine, which adjoins her family’s property at Dooen, and was gutted yesterday to find out via an email from Planning Panels Victoria that Avonbank’s EES had been approved. “Farmers are just treated like second-class citizens, it’s like we don’t matter,” she said. “To refer to us as ‘a submitter’ (in the email) and treated like we get notified the same way as all those people in Horsham who are putting

favourable submissions. Those people in Horsham, those people that put in favourable submissions for this mining, have actually contributed to us being removed from our land. “And how bloody inconsiderate is it from the government to make this announcement while we’re harvesting, and just prior to Christmas. “It’s ruthless, inconsiderate, and they should be ashamed of themselves.” Ms Kilkenny said there were strict environmental controls on both projects – they must minimise clearance of native vegetation, consider local biodiversity and undertake rehabilitation as they mine, limiting the size of the pit and returning it to farmland sooner.

The Avonbank project is expected to provide a $3.5-billion economic boost to the region, and inject a further $15-billion to industries across the state. “It’s crucial that we balance development with the environment and these approvals put in place safeguards to protect the environment, including vulnerable species and habitats,” Ms Kilkenny said. The 36-year Avonbank mine is expected to produce about 311 tonnes of minerals including zircon, titanium, and rare earth minerals – used a variety of products, including renewable energy equipment. Continued page 3

IN THIS ISSUE • Inequities in service access • Drive to increase volunteers • Hornets through to grand final 21,505 COPIES DISTRIBUTED EACH WEEK (average)

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