Status
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Background
WIM Resource Pty Ltd proposes to develop the Avonbank Mineral Sands project which has a development extent of 3,546 hectares and is located approximately 15 kilometres northeast of Horsham.
The Avonbank deposit contains approximately 300 million tonnes of ore and is proposed to produce a heavy mineral concentrate containing zircon, titanium-rich mineral concentrate and minor amounts of rare earth products.
The proposal includes the development of a mineral sands mine, mining unit plant, wet concentrator plant, slurry pipelines, power and water supply infrastructure and additional site facilities (such as a site office, warehouse, workshops and fuel storage).
The proposed mining methods involve open-pit mining to extract approximately 11 million tonnes of ore per year over a projected mine life of 30 years to produce approximately 12.75 million tonnes of heavy mineral concentrate over the life of mine. Mined areas will be progressively rehabilitated to re-establish the former agricultural land use.
Mine products are proposed to be transported via road to the Port of Portland for export overseas.
Minister’s assessment
In December 2023 the Minister for Planning requested specific supplementary information from the proponent to inform the Minister’s Assessment of the project. WIM Resource provided its response on 1 August 2024, as set out in their Response to the Minister for Planning.
The Minister for Planning completed her assessment for this project under the Environment Effects Act 1978 on 8 November 2024. This concludes the EES process for this project.
The proponent and statutory agencies/bodies have received the assessment to inform their statutory decision-making, including the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Water, to inform her decision about the project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The Minister’s assessment under the Environment Effects Act 1978 concludes that the environmental effects of the project are generally acceptable, provided the project is modified and environmental management measures are refined and adopted consistent with the findings of the Minister’s assessment.
Public review and inquiry
Inquiry and advisory committee
See Planning Panels Victoria Avonbank Mineral Sands Inquiry and Advisory Committee.
Exhibition
The environment effects statement and draft planning scheme amendment for the Avonbank Mineral Sands project were publicly exhibited for comment for 30 business days from 14 April 2023 to 26 May 2023.
You can view the EES, project documentation and any related documents at Avonbank Mineral Sands Project.
EES preparation
Consultation plan
WIM Resource Pty Ltd has prepared a consultation plan for the EES, outlining the opportunities and approaches for its community engagement during the preparation of the EES.
The plan may be updated as required during the preparation of the EES. If the plan changes, the updated version will be posted on this page.
Technical reference group
The Department has convened an inter-agency Technical reference group to advise the proponent and the Department, as appropriate, on scoping and adequacy of the EES studies during the preparation of the EES, as well as coordination with statutory approval processes.
The government organisations represented on the Technical reference group are:
- DTP - Impact Assessment
- DEECA - Grampians (biodiversity)
- DTP - Planning
- First Peoples State Relations
- Heritage Victoria
- EPA Victoria
- Department of Health
- GWM Water
- Wimmera Catchment Management Authority
- Regional Roads Victoria
- Earth Resources Regulation
- Horsham Rural City Council
Technical reference group representatives are supported by internal experts on specific aspects of the EES studies.
Scoping requirements
The scoping requirements set out the matters to be investigated and documented in the environment effects statement.
Draft scoping requirements for this EES were placed on exhibition in July-August 2020.
After considering public submissions on the draft scoping requirements, the Minister for Planning issued final scoping requirements in September 2020.
Minister's decision on referral
On 17 August 2019 the Minister for Planning required WIM Resource Pty Ltd to prepare an environment effects statement (EES) under the Environment Effects Act 1978 to assess the potential environmental effects of the project.
The EES is being undertaken as an accredited process set out in the bilateral agreement under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). It will have to assess the relevant matters of national environmental significance identified in the Commonwealth decision that the project is a 'controlled action' requesting approval under the EPBC Act.
Project contact
Proposed Avonbank Mineral Sands project queries:
WIM Resource Pty Ltd
☎ Phone: 1800 580 787
✉ Email: avonbankees@wimresource.com.au
Page last updated: 24/02/25