Goschen Mineral Sands and Rare Earths Project Inquiry and Advisory Committee

Overview

The Minister for Planning has appointed a joint inquiry and advisory committee to advise on the proposed Goschen Mineral Sands and Rare Earths Project.

VHM Limited (the Proponent) proposes to develop the Goschen Mineral Sands and Rare Earths Project (the project) which has an approximate area of 1,500 hectares in the Loddon Mallee Region of Victoria, approximately 35 kilometres south of Swan Hill.

The project would involve the mining and processing of heavy mineral sands and rare earth minerals into mixed heavy mineral concentrate (HMC), zircon concentrate, rutile, leucoxene, ilmenite, as well as rare earth mineral products.

The project includes:

• Mining and processing of 5 million tonnes per annum of heavy mineral sands within two mining areas to produce a variety of critical mineral concentrates, over an estimated 20-to-25-year mine life
• Transport of product using sealed sea containers via road to the Ultima intermodal terminal and railed to the Port of Melbourne for overseas export
• Progressive rehabilitation of mined areas and the return of the land to agricultural land uses over three to five years
• Establishing a 38km water supply pipeline capable of supplying up to 4.5GL/per annum from Kangaroo Lake to the mine
• Electrical power needed for mining and processing during operation, requiring a maximum 5 megawatts of power consumption
• Upgrading various local roads to support project and transport of product to Ultima.

The committee has been asked to advise the minister on the Environment Effects Statement, draft planning scheme amendment GC218 to the Gannawarra and Swan Hill Planning Schemes, Environment Protection Authority (EPA) development licence application and public submissions on the proposed project.

Inquiry and advisory committee members

• Michael Kirsch (Chair)
• Elissa Bell
• Colin McIntosh

Hearing details

The hearing will commence at 10.00 am Monday 25 March 2024. The hearing will run for 21 days across six weeks until Tuesday 30 April 2024. It will be conducted in a hybrid format and is open for anyone to watch.

For information about observing the hearing and further updates please visit Engage Victoria.

Documents

To view and download the Environment Effects Statement, draft planning scheme amendment, EPA development licence application and other documents for this project, see Goschen Mineral Sands and Rare Earths Project.

Terms of reference

Submissions

Submissions made to the Goschen Mineral Sands and Rare Earths Project Inquiry and Advisory Committee are available at Engage Victoria.

More information

To find out more about the Goschen Mineral Sands and Rare Earths Project:
VHM Limited
(03) 5450 8804
community@vhmltd.com.au

For more information about the Goschen Mineral Sands EES process:
Impact Assessment Unit
Department of Transport and Planning
environment.assessment@delwp.vic.gov.au

For questions about the EPA development licence application contact:
Permissions – EPA
1300 372 842
permissions@epa.vic.gov.au

Accessibility and assistance

Deaf, hearing or speech impaired? Please contact the National Relay Service on 133 677 or www.relayservice.gov.au.

Page last updated: 08/04/24