The Fingerboards Mineral Sands Mine is once again a hot topic of discussion in East Gippsland.
Gippsland Critical Minerals (GCM), formerly Kalbar Resources, last week confirmed the State Government has renewed its retention and exploration licenses to develop a new Fingerboards Rare Earths and Critical Minerals Project (Fingerboards Project) with a revised scope and stronger community engagement.
The licence renewals do not permit mining. GCM must complete its project rescope by December 11, 2025.
However, the licence renewals have struck a nerve with Mine-Free Glenaladale, the community group which played a significant role in having the original mine project scrapped by the State Government in November 2021.
The current State Government has indicated that several exploration license applications made by GCM would be included in additional mining exclusion zones around the retention license areas.
GCM say the Fingerboards Project will access a world-class deposit of rare earth elements and critical minerals required for wind turbines, solar panels, computers, electric vehicles, hydrogen electrolysers, medical equipment and smartphones, and will create new jobs and investment for East Gippsland.
“After working to develop the Fingerboards opportunity over the past decade, we knew we needed to do things differently to create a project that meets community expectations,” GCM’s CEO Michelle Wood said.
“We went back to the drawing board and we now have a starting point for a better project that will deliver long-term benefits for East Gippsland.
“The licences have been renewed for an improved project that protects local agriculture and jobs in the Lindenow Valley, creates new employment opportunities through training and apprenticeships and better protects the environment for future generations.
“There is still a great deal to do to determine the final shape of the project. This includes a genuine commitment to listen and engage with the community and to work with local people on community benefit sharing and a wide range of technical and environmental studies.”
HARD WORK UNDONE?
Mine-Free Glenaladale spokesperson Debbie Carruthers says the licence renewals fly in the face of everything the group fought against for more than a decade.
“It was an huge shock to hear Gippsland Critical Minerals (GCM), Kalbar’s new company name, are able to potentially try again for environmental approval of a rare earths mine at the Fingerboards in Glenaladale,” Ms Carruthers said.
“Following a government inquiry to assess the company’s Environment Effects Statement (EES), a government appointed panel as well as the Victorian Minister for Planning concluded that the environment effects of the Fingerboards mine project were unacceptable, with the Minister announcing on November 24, 2021, that the project will not proceed. In the executive summary of the Minister’s report he said “the unacceptable effects relate primarily to effects on native vegetation, biodiversity, air quality, agriculture and horticulture and social values within the project area and its surrounds. The project also poses an unacceptable risk to surface water values downstream of the site.”
“When the EES process commenced more than eight years ago, the community was asked to have faith in that process and accept the “umpire’s decision”. Clearly the company isn’t following their own advice. It’s three years since environmental approval was withheld, followed by Kalbar closing their office in Bairnsdale with senior staff leaving the area. We wrongly assumed that would be the end of it.”
As part of the renewal, Resources Victoria has placed strict conditions on GCM. This ensures Gippsland Critical Minerals seeks a Victorian Government determination on the future requirements of the Environmental Effects Statement, following the project’s failure to gain approval in 2021.
Resources Victoria expects Gippsland Critical Minerals to have improved, collaborative and genuine engagement with the community and Traditional Owners.
The regulator also refused a series of exploration licenses surrounding the project site which places a hold on any further exploration activity in this area until it can be established that mining can occur without unacceptable risk to the environment.
The Earth Resources Regulator will closely monitor their activities to ensure strict new licence conditions are met.
“Through this decision we are providing Gippsland Critical Minerals with time to reshape their project but reducing the overall area where exploration can take place,” Chris Webb, Resources Victoria executive director regulatory operations, said.
“If mining is to proceed in the Glenaladale area, Gippsland Critical Minerals need to address the previous EES assessment and come back with a different proposal that aligns with the values of the local community.
“While Gippsland Critical Minerals assess their options, we are putting a hold on other minerals exploration activity in this area.”
East Gippsland Shire Council was not involved in the Victorian Government decision to renew retention and exploration licences regarding the Fingerboards Mine project.
Chief executive officer Fiona Weigall said council had been reassured by the government that this Ministerial decision to renew two retention licences and one exploration licence for Gippsland Critical Minerals for a set period is to provide opportunity for the proponents to address feedback from the initial EES and rescope the project.
“These licence renewals do not permit mining, they only allow Gippsland Critical Minerals to continue to explore and carry out work to reshape their project. We understand that this approval comes with tight parameters including strict community engagement conditions,” Ms Weigall said.
“Council invested heavily in a response to the Environment Effects Statement at the start of the last council term, took on the broad community concerns, and ensured our communities were heard in that process. This significant advocacy has contributed to the tighter controls in place on this retention and exploration license, and the need for any rescoping of the project to consider the EES feedback.
“Council confirms that it had no role in this recently announced decision. We are currently in an election period and our priority over the coming weeks will be to ensure the incoming Council is briefed on what this Ministerial decision means.
“We understand the community will have mixed views about this Ministerial decision. Any questions should be raised through your State MP and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (Resources Victoria).”
THE RESCOPE
GCM has made a number of changes to rescope the new Fingerboards Project including:
– Establishment of a mining exclusion or ‘buffer’ zone of approximately 1.5 kilometres from any mining to the existing Lindenow Valley horticultural area to safeguard local agriculture
– Fencing off and establishing conservation areas in gullies to substantially reduce impacts on native vegetation and the environment
– Significantly increasing its investment in community and First Nations engagement
– Ensuring positive outcomes for the local community through benefit sharing, including economic and employment opportunities.
There is also new GCM leadership with representatives from Appian Capital Advisory joining the board, a new chair and a new chief executive officer.
The change in leadership reflects a commitment to the Fingerboards Project becoming a demonstration of best practices in critical minerals development for Victoria.
Ms Carruthers says the proposed 1.5km buffer zone will do little to protect the agricultural industry within the nearby area.
“These fields and the Mitchell River are downwind and beneath the plateau where the mine would be situated. Dust knows no boundaries particularly during a dust storm; in light of what is proposed to be mined, it was shown there will be radioactive and cancer causing substances, including silica in the dust,” she said.
“It’s nearly 11 years since Kalbar announced their intention to develop a mine at the Fingerboards. Impacted landholders and the general community have had to bear enormous financial and also psychological burdens since then.
“How many times are companies allowed to keep trying until they get the answer they want?
“Impacted landholders and the community continue to live with the uncertainty and fear for their livelihoods and the health of their families, workers and community members. The mining regulations in Victoria are failing communities and not protecting them,” Ms Carruthers said.