He said he felt obliged to represent his constituents.

The petition was tabled on Thursday.

Mr Helper said he supported Stawell Gold Mines' proposal for two open-cut mines on Big Hill.

"I think it is a far superior proposition to the one that was rejected in 2002 because it involved the rehabilitation of Big Hill," he said.

Mr Helper said the mine would create jobs for Stawell.

"The question for the community of Stawell is do we want the jobs for a defined period of time with Big Hill rehabilitated or do we not want those jobs?" he said.

"For those who have to put food on the table for the family or those who have to work out how to pay the mortgage, I'm sure that job opportunities are important."

Mr Helper said he believed close attention was being paid to the environmental and health impacts of the proposed open cuts.

"All of these types of developments are of course highly regulated," he said. "I would imagine if approval is granted that external impacts will be highly managed and highly regulated and include issues such as dust suppression."

Labor candidate for Ripon Daniel McGlone said he supported the mine on the condition that health and safety concerns were met.

"We're in favour of jobs for Stawell," he said.

"The issue will be the results of public consultation and the recommendations to the minister."

Friends of Big Hill spokeswoman Sherrie Hunt said about 30 people met outside State Parliament on Tuesday.

"We are passionately asking Planning Minister Matthew Guy to make a decision about this before the election so we know where we can vote," she said.

"We're continuing the fight we won't stop."

Mrs Hunt said the planned rehabilitation would leave Big Hill looking like 'rice patties'.

A State Government-appointed panel, which presided over a hearing into the proposal, is expected to give its report to Mr Guy later this month.