Resources Victoria, a State Government body, is currently assessing WIM Resource’s application for a mining licence for the Avonbank mine, which spans 3426 hectares, staged over 38 years, and is about 1.3 kilometres northeast of Dooen – with a footprint that is split by the Wimmera Highway.
The Earth Resources Regulator has received more than 300 submissions from the public about the mining licence.
WIM Resource board director John Bradley said the project was now positioned for construction to start in 2026, pending final approvals and a financial investment decision.
“This is an important milestone for the Avonbank project and confirms that we can move forward with confidence, knowing the project meets Australia’s highest environmental standards while delivering lasting economic and social benefits for the Wimmera region,” he said.
WIM Resource executive team members Eddy Wu and Michael Winternitz said the Federal Government approval recognised the project’s adherence to the principles of ecologically sustainable development and its capacity to avoid and mitigate significant impacts to matters of national environmental significance.
They said WIM Resource would continue to engage with relevant stakeholders, including the local community, as the project progresses.
The project has attracted a growing criticism from landowners whose properties will be affected and from a larger group of farmers across the region who believe agriculture land should be prioritised, and the community should be aware of mining risks concerning radiation; dust; economical impacts and environmental concerns.
The approval decision and conditions, published yesterday morning, is available on the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website at epbcpublicportal.environment.gov.au/all-notices/.
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