Status
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Background
Proponent: Fosterville Gold Mine Pty Ltd
The Fosterville Gold Mine Sustained Operations Project proposes activities that are required to support the continuation of existing gold mining operations at Fosterville Gold Mine beyond the next two years. These activities include:
- an extension of current underground mining operations in MIN5404 to the south, north and west;
- cutbacks (extension) to existing open pits;
- construction and operation of new tailings storage facilities within existing tailings compound or within existing open pits;
- construction and operation of a new brine evaporation pond;
- construction of a new waste rock dump;
- transfer/sale of carbon in leach (CIL) tailings; and
- management of waste paste and a managed aquifer recharge (MAR) program to inject treated mine water to the fractured rock aquifer.
Mining operations would continue as per the current operation, with ore mined using the same underground mining methods and processed through the same treatment plant. The Sustained Operations Project does not propose any increase in mining rates above the nominal capacity of the existing processing plant or changes to existing approved mining and processing methods.
EES preparation
Consultation plan
Fosterville Gold Mine Pty Ltd has prepared a communication and consultation plan for the EES, outlining the opportunities and approaches for its community engagement during the preparation of the EES.
The consultation plan may be adapted or modified to meet changing community needs and requirements throughout the EES process.
Technical reference group
DELWP will convene 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 co-ordination of the EES process with other statutory processes for the project.
The government organisations represented on the Technical Reference Group are:
- DELWP Planning Group
- DELWP Forest, Fire and Regions (Loddon Mallee)
- Department of Economic Development Jobs Transport and Resources (Earth Resources Regulation)
- First Peoples – State Relations
- Heritage Victoria
- Environment Protection Authority Victoria
- Parks Victoria
- Goulburn-Murray Water
- North Central Catchment Management Authority
- Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation
- City of Greater Bendigo
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 (EES).
Draft scoping requirements for this EES were on public exhibition from 18 May until 7 June 2022.
After considering public submissions on the draft scoping requirements, the Minister for Planning issued final scoping requirements in September 2022.
Minister's decision on referral
On 10 November 2021 the Minister for Planning required Fosterville Gold Mine Pty Ltd to prepare an Environment Effects Statement (EES) under the Environment Effects Act 1978 to assess the potential environmental effects of the project.
Project contact
If you have any questions or feedback, please get in touch via the contact details below.
Fosterville Gold Mine Sustained Operations Project
Fosterville Gold Mine Pty Ltd, care of RMCG
☎ Phone: (03) 5441 4821
✉ Email: FostervilleEES@rmcg.com.au
You can also visit the proponent's virtual consultation room for further information.
Page last updated: 14/02/24