Regional Victoria will see new jobs, skills, training pathways and opportunities for local business with the confirmation of positive environmental assessments for new minerals sands projects today.
This progress of the WIM Resource Avonbank and the VHM Goschen projects is a sign that Victoria is open to investment in mining and that the state can diversify regional economies with the contribution of new industries.
The positive assessment by the Minister for Planning, the Hon Sonya Kilkenny MLA, of the rigorous environmental, social and economic effects of the project is a significant step forward for Victoria's growing mining industry and will benefit all Victorians.
Mineral sands mining coexists with many other industries including agriculture and tourism across Australia.
This is a major milestone for Victoria with the last currently operating mine permitted almost 20 years ago. Victoria's return to the mining of mineral sands and rare earths, including critical minerals for technologies the world uses every day, is an investment in the future.
Victoria has surpassed minerals exploration records in recent years. Only investment in exploration can lead to the discovery and development of mines. More than $632 million has been spent on exploration in Victoria since 2020.
Investment confidence will improve following these decisions.
Victoria hosts a significant part of the Murray Basin which has the world's largest known deposits of mineral sands, and Victoria has Australia's largest share of identified resources of zircon and rutile.
Mining projects stand ready to deliver jobs and economic opportunities in regional Victoria from Horsham to Swan Hill.
The Victorian regulatory process are extremely thorough and robust. Victoria has a strong mining regulator and laws to monitor mining with mining projects subject to at least five separate legislative regimes and approvals processes with multiple regulators.
Victoria's minerals industry looks forward to working with communities and government to uphold high standards of mining practice and ensure all Victorians benefit from extraction of Victoria's resources.
