General News
12 March, 2025
Questions continue around mining
Following the ban on attending the Wimmera Machinery Field Days, mining company WIM Resource held an invitation-only event at the Horsham Golf Club on Wednesday, March 5.
On Sunday, March 1, the WMFD notified The Wimmera Mail-Times that the committee had decided not to allow mining groups (WIM Resource and ASTON, Donald Mine) to exhibit at the eleventh hour.
Manager Vanessa Lenehan said the decision was based on public safety.
Michael Winternitz, Director of Projects, WIM Resource, said regarding the evening event, "WIM Resource was pleased to invite representatives from Wimmera businesses to our sundowner event on March 5. We had 54 attendees on the night (including WIM) from 34 individual businesses/groups and other local stakeholders.
"The purpose of the event was to bring local businesses together to learn about upcoming opportunities in the region and engage in open discussions about the project, including exploring how agriculture and mineral sand mining can coexist in the Wimmera and create real benefits for the local community.
"WIM welcomes the opportunity to engage with all stakeholders and community members, including Mine Free Wimmera Farms, to address any questions or concerns. We encourage constructive discussions and remain focused on finding common ground and mutually beneficial solutions," he said.
Members of the MFWF Incorporated gathered at two entrances to the clubrooms in silent protest against mining agricultural land before a golf club spokesperson asked them to leave.
WIM Resource plan for the open-cut strip Avonbank Mineral Sands Mine at Dooen has been an issue among landowners and sections of the community since the impact on farming land of the 3546-hectare mine became public.
Groups against mining agriculture land have been established recently and have increased in number, with the Mine Free Wiimera Farms Incorporated group gaining momentum.
The Environmental Effects Study for the proposed Avonbank Mine, held in November 2023, was approved by Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny on December 10, 2024, after some confusion.
On November 13, 2024, members of the MFWF received a phone call from Michael Winternitz, Director of Projects at WIM Resource, advising them that the EES had been approved and that the minister would make the announcement the following day.
This did not eventuate, leaving the farmers confused on their first days of the 2024 harvest.
Documentation obtained by the Wimmera Mail-Times confirmed that while Mr Winternitz had been advised of the EES approval, the minister contacted him on November 15, after her initial correspondence on November 8, advising him to "pause any further action in relation to the assessment."
Following due process, the minister's office did not provide reasons for telling Mr Winternitz to delay; however, she issued a press release on December 10 advising the public that the EES had been approved for the Avonbank and Donald mineral sands mines.
While the EES approval was a significant step in favour of WIM, it is not the full approval, and the project still needs a mining licence to proceed.
There are more steps to be followed before a licence can be approved.
MFWF members hosted a site at the WMFD.
A spokesperson for the group said the public's response was outstanding. Members were kept busy during the three-day event, as the public wanted to know more about the impacts and landowners' concerns.
Members of the MFWF said that they are not against mining but are against mining prime agricultural land, and the Dooen area is rated as some of the best in the state.
Their concerns far outweigh the initial 36-year life of the mine with doubts their land can be rehabilitated to the current quality and produce an equivalent crop yield.
When Premier Jacinta Allen visited Horsham on November 20, 2024, she told the WMT the EES process relating to the proposed Avonbank Mine was being reviewed and confirmed that claims there had been fraudulent submissions made relating to this project would be investigated.
On February 12, 2025, Crime Investigation Unit Detectives arrested a Horsham man after reports that documents had been fraudulently prepared and lodged as part of the mining project.
Horsham police said the man was questioned and released without charge but said the investigation was ongoing.
