THE story about the EES hearing (The Guardian 16/4) for the proposed Goschen mine and industrial processing plant stated “VHM’s proposed site in Lalbert holds the world’s largest, highest-grade zircon, rutile and rare earth mineral deposits, which are ‘critical minerals’ to help transition to green energy”.
This sounds like marketing spin because the actual facts are that the best rare earth sites are in China and of the at least six mineral sand mining projects, in various stages of planning and development, in the Wimmera and Mallee, all of these claim that they have the best or biggest deposit.
It is not a difficult claim when monazite sand appears under much of the Wimmera and Mallee.
There are many more areas which have very similar deposits of monazite sand to Goschen, so why site a mine in the best of our cereal-production farmland, Cannie Ridge?
The cost of rehabilitation will be enormous and it is typical that mines never fulfil obligations to rehabilitate.
During the 21-day hearing there have been many weaknesses, uncertainties and risks confirmed to do with issues such as groundwater, air quality, noise, environment and radiation.
The economics of a commodity like zircon are highly unstable, as is the sovereign risk factor, with the main buyer being China.
Economist Professor Chris Lightfoot stated in his conclusion on the last day of expert evidence, “What the CGE analysis does not do is provide the information necessary to determine whether the Goschen project will enhance or diminish the welfare of the community, region or state.
“As such it does not meet Victoria’s criteria for determining whether or not planning permission should be granted.”
Balanced with promises of pots of gold, real local impacts like extreme housing pressure and the mine poaching staff could be felt across the community.
This is not just a mine either: the industrial refinery beside it makes this proposal very different indeed to the Wemen or Ouyen mines, let alone the silly comparison that some make with a local quarry.
This comment is my personal view.
Dr Jacquie Kelly,
Swan Hill
