About one third of the mining licence area falls south of the Wimmera Highway, towards Freds Road, Longerenong, with a majority of the mining area north of the highway to Johns Road.
Since the 21-day feedback period began on March 19, Resources Victoria has received more than 100 formal submissions, with a range of feedback about the project.
The application will be assessed on the project’s viability, whether WIM Resource has the capacity to deliver the proposed project, and whether they are ‘fit and proper’ to hold a mining licence.
Resources Victoria regulatory operations executive director Chris Webb said if the applicant was not found to be fit and proper then a mining licence would not be awarded.
“The strong community response to date demonstrates that there is good awareness of the project, the proponent and how to provide feedback ahead of the mining licence assessment for the Avonbank project,” he said.
“Part of assessing WIM Resource’s mining licence application is determining if they are fit and proper based on the facts available to the Earth Resources Regulator.
“This can be reassessed at any time during the life of a mining licence.”
Resources Victoria has also addressed concerns about the advertising of the mining licence, with affected landowners objecting to the mining licence application advertisement, published in The Weekly Advertiser on March 19.
Maryla Johns and Donna Johns wrote to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, DEECA, and Resources Victoria with concerns about on the map omitting the Melbourne-Adelaide rail line; and not marking the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal within the mining licence, the proximity to the Wimmera Agriculture and Logistics, WAL HUB, the Dooen and Darlot swamps, Longerenong College, and the location of WIM Resource’s secondary processing plant.
But Resources Victoria says the public advertising was ‘completed correctly and complied with Victoria’s minerals legislation’, and there was no requirement to re-advertise.
Mr Webb said the strong community response demonstrated the advertising and promotion of the feedback process had been effective.
“While the statutory feedback period will not be extended, the Earth Resources Regulator will consider submissions made after April 9 prior to the assessment being completed,” he said.
“However, we encourage early submissions because it allows us to seek additional information, if it’s needed.”
The Avonbank project has already progressed through a planning assessment via the Environment Effects Statement, EES, process, enabling WIM Resource to prepare and submit its mining licence application.
The Avonbank project is still in the hands of Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek for approval through the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, but with the federal election now called, all government departments have entered care-taker mode, likely to delay Federal Government approval of the project.
Details of the mining licence application process, including the scope of community feedback being sought, are available on the Resources Victoria website on the ‘Have your say’ page.
The entire April 2, 2025 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
