Farmers and locals in Victoria are worried about a surge in applications to mine and explore for mineral sands on prime farming land. Six different proposals are at various stages of development as mining companies chase critical minerals.

Lalbert

Farmers and locals in Victoria are expressing concerns over the rise in applications for mining and exploration of mineral sands on prime agricultural land. This apprehension comes amid six different proposals, each in various stages of development, as mining companies pursue critical minerals vital for new technologies.

The Bennett family, which has farmed in northern Victoria for over a century, faces uncertainty with a proposed mineral sand mine by VHM just 500 meters from their home. This project could potentially disrupt their livelihood, given their reliance on rainwater collected from their rooftops, which they fear may be contaminated by radioactive dust due to the mining. The minerals in question are not only critical for technological advancements but also raise environmental and health concerns due to their radioactive components, such as uranium and thorium.

These developments are part of a wider trend in Victoria, with a total of six more mineral sand mines planned or in exploration phases and one already approved in Donald. These mines are set to exploit Australia’s rich deposits of ilmenite, rutile, and zircon, which constitute a significant portion of the world’s reserves. These materials are essential for a variety of applications, including paint production, medical implants, ceramics, electronic products, and the manufacturing of green technologies.

The Australian federal government is responding to the opportunity by increasing available funding to the critical minerals sector to $6 billion, aiming to support the mining and processing of these deposits. This move is intended to stimulate investment in the sector and contribute to the Australian economy.

However, the prospect of mining has engendered mixed reactions among the Victoria community. Peter and Leanne Polar, neighbors to the Bennetts, worry about the impact on the region's fertile cropping lands. In contrast, some local businesses in Kerrang welcome the potential economic boost from the creation of new jobs. Rob Sutterby, a local hotel owner, anticipates that the employment opportunities from the mine could significantly benefit the local community.

In response to these varying concerns and the potential economic benefits, the state government has formed an advisory committee to review the mining proposal, with a report expected soon.



Farmers worry about sand mining plans

The Bennett family has been farming this land in northern Victoria for 130 years, but they may not be able to continue if a mineral sandmine is approved just 500 metres from their home. It's been very stressful. It's on your mind, day and night. The application has been made by mining company VHM. The minerals VHM wants to harvest are used in many new technologies, but they also contain the radioactive elements uranium and thorium. And that's a concern for the Bennetts, who harvest rainwater from their rooftops. We have rainwater tanks as our water supply for everything, for drinking, eating, cooking, washing. All of our rainwater is harvested from the roofs that are going to be covered in radioactive dust. The project is just one of the mineral sandmines slated for Victoria in coming years. Six other mineral sandmines are in planning and exploration stages, and a mine at Donald has already been approved. To be able to make use of the materials that we already have and to value add in terms of get a greater gain for the Australian economy is kind of a natural no-brainer. Australia's mineral sand deposits are among the richest and most useful in the world. The Minerals Council says Australia is home to 32% of the world's ilmenite and 62% of its rutile. Uranium elements used in the production of paint and medical implants, and 68% of global zircon deposits used in ceramics and electronic products. The sands also contain rare earth elements, crucial in building green technologies like wind turbines and rechargeable batteries. The federal government is keen to capitalise, expanding the funding available to the critical minerals sector to $6 billion to help mining companies harvest and process deposits. You can provide government support to help spark investment in manufacturing and processing of critical minerals. Peter and Leanne Polar live next door to the Bennetts, and fear the mines could put at risk some of Victoria's most productive cropping land. If it was just the money, we'd probably find something else to do. We feel we're doing something that's important, growing food, we really do feel that. But not everyone is against the proposal. For some businesses in the small town of Kerrang, the prospect of hundreds of new jobs coming into the region is a rare and exciting one, and they're keen to cash in. Rob Sutterby runs a local hotel, and says anything that boosts the local population should be welcomed. 500 jobs the first couple of years, and 300 for the next 30 to 40 years, just for that one project. Bringing that many people in, well employed, affluent sort of jobs, technical jobs, into the country is a huge bonus for the region. The state government has set up an advisory committee to look at the proposal. Its report is due in June.

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