General News
13 July, 2024
Project gathers pace
Astron Corporation owner and managing director Tiger Brown is ramping up the mining company's efforts to garner community support for its Donald rare earth and mineral sands project.
Currently awaiting approval of its Mining Work Plan, one of the key regulatory steps to kick start the mining operation on 426 sq km between Minyip and Donald, Mr Brown said he would be based in Minyip at least once a month as the project gathers pace.
A 70 km stretch of land has been identified for the mine. Precise locations are yet to be determined.
The project is rated one of the most significant globally and will help fill a worldwide shortage of rare earth minerals used in many common household and commercial products.
It will offer about 150 jobs which are expected to lead to several hundred more full-time-equivalent jobs. Flow-on effects for the local economy will be significant.
"We plan to be part of this community for decades to come," Mr Brown said. "And we want to keep in close contact with the people. I'm happy to meet with people at any time."
He also addressed the issue of returning land to farm use once the mine's life was over.
"To us rehabilitation is not an option, it's an obligation," he said. "We plan to leave the farmland in better condition than before we started."
Land required for the start of mining has been procured from two landowners.
Astron has secured $183 million from US uranium mining giant Energy Fuels towards the $432 million mine set-up cost, and Mr Brown is confident of securing the remaining funds.
The project also has a tick of support from governments.
At a community drop-in session last week at the company's Minyip office, Mr Brown reinforced the company's efforts to foster support, invest in the community, and to honour its corporate pledge to be "honest, forthcoming and transparent in all of its communication".
Public response is mixed to the project, which will harvest rare earth minerals for more than 40 years on cropping and grazing land between Minyip and Donald.
Mr Brown faced strong opposition at a meeting at Rupanyup from farmers who objected to the loss of prime farming land to mining.
The company's commitment to rehabilitate the land failed to appease some farmers, who have joined forces in an effort to fight mining plans across the Wimmera.
The Minyip community appeared more receptive to Mr Brown, his staff and the anticipated value of the mine to the district.
They also were optimistic that an influx of both people and income to the area would mean a boost to employment and more business opportunity. At present the town is without a functioning hotel and a cafe has closed.
Minyip Progress Association deputy chair Marie Milgate said even after 20 years of talk about a possible mine, the reality of it had now hit home with residents.
"It's like, oh heck, it's happening," she said.
"We hope that the workers, when they come, will be part of our community."
People were now asking about impact on the town, including its school, available services and infrastructure.
Mrs Milgate said locals backed the plan to create a 62-unit accommodation centre for mine workers on the former Minyip Hospital site. Mining officials are yet to name contractors for the centre.
Astron plans to send materials to Geelong by rail, but people have expressed concern about the impact on roads between the mine and Dooen's freight terminal, as well as other issues including dust pollution.
"We have put a lot of effort into working out how to deal with dust," Mr Brown said.
"One thing we plan is stockpiles and that will help reduce dust."
Mr Brown expects mining operations to begin towards the end of next year.