Fingerboards Mineral Sands

The Public Hearing for the Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project Inquiry and Advisory Committee concluded on 22 July 2021. The Inquiry and Advisory Committee report has been submitted in accordance with the Terms of Reference. The IAC was given a two week extension and provided their report to the Minister for Planning on 30 September 2021.

Given the extent of material covered through the IAC report and the complexity of the project, the timeframe for the Minister’s Assessment has also been extended by two weeks.  The Minister’s Assessment and IAC report are now expected to be published in mid-late November 2021.

The environment effects statement (EES), together with the draft planning scheme amendment and the EPA Works Approval Application, was released for public comment for a period of 40 business days, from Thursday 3 September to 5.00pm on Thursday 29 October 2020.

• A copy of the notice announcing exhibition. (PDF, 164.5 KB)

You can view the EES, draft Planning Scheme Amendment and Works Approval Application and any related documents at Kalbar’s Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project webpage.

You can view the submissions received on Engage Victoria.

Information about the process that will follow the conclusion of the public exhibition period can be found in the Panel or Committee tab.

On 19 July 2020 the Minister issued amended procedures and requirements under the Environment Effects Act for the Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project EES. The amended procedures and requirements relate to the public exhibition and inquiry stages of the EES process, and provide for special measures to be implemented in light of the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions that apply under Victoria's state of emergency. In particular, they provide for interested people to register to obtain their own copies of EES documentation, in the absence of the usual public display of hard copies at physical exhibition points, and confirm the extended public exhibition period from 30 to 40 business days. The Minister has also given direction about the possible use of technology such as video-conferencing for hearings of the inquiry.

• Amended procedures and requirements (19 July 2020) (PDF, 147.9 KB)

The Minister issued his original procedures and requirements in December 2016 when he decided that an EES was required. The original procedures and requirements appear on this website in the Minister's Decision section below.

The Scoping Requirements set out the matters to be investigated and documented in the EES. Draft Scoping Requirements for this EES were on public exhibition between 13 September 2017 to 6 October 2017. After considering public submissions on the Draft Scoping Requirements, the Minister for Planning issued final Scoping Requirements in April 2018.

• Final Scoping Requirements (PDF, 1.8 MB) or (DOCX, 1.8 MB)

To assist with the interpretation of the final Scoping Requirements, please view questions and answers containing guidance on their development here.

• Scoping Requirements Q&A (DOCX, 23.7 KB)

Kalbar has prepared a communication and consultation plan for the EES, outlining the opportunities and approaches for their community engagement during the preparation of the EES. The plan has been refined following advice from the department and Technical Reference Group and is published on this web page. Kalbar welcomes community input on the plan at any time. The consultation process may be adapted or modified to meet changing community needs and requirements.

• Consultation Plan (Updated May 2020)   (PDF, 1.4 MB)

Read the Kalbar fact sheet that summarises the EES process:

• Where are we in the EES process? (PDF, 57.7 KB)

DELWP has convened an inter-agency Technical Reference Group at the request of the Minister for Planning to advise DELWP and the proponent on scoping and adequacy of the EES studies and documentation, as well as coordination of the EES process with other statutory processes for the project.

The government organisations represented on the Technical Reference Group are:

• DELWP - Impact Assessment
• DELWP - Region & Biodiversity
• Department of Economic Development Jobs Transport and Resources (Earth Resources Regulation)
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Aboriginal Victoria
• Heritage Victoria
• EPA Victoria
• Parks Victoria
• East Gippsland Water
• Southern Rural Water
• West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority
• East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority
• VicRoads
• East Gippsland Shire Council
• Wellington Shire Council

Technical Reference Group representatives are supported by internal experts on specific aspects of the EES studies.