Horsham Rural City Council is urging the Earth Resources Regulator to exclude the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal (WIFT) from the proposed mining licence area for WIM Resource's Avonbank project near Dooen.
The proposed 3426-hectare mineral sands mine, to be developed over 38 years, is currently under assessment. Council finalised its submission this week, following a community session at Dooen Hall that drew about 100 residents and helped inform Council's response.
Council's submission argues that WIFT, a Council-owned strategic freight terminal with no current link to the mining project, should remain separate from the licence area to preserve its long-term freight potential.
Other key points include a request for a two-kilometre buffer between mining operations and nearby homes or businesses, and concern that the WIM Base Area (WBA) sits outside the licence, leaving part of the project outside State regulatory oversight.
Council also highlighted issues such as truck routes, air quality, land rehabilitation, radiation management, and the need for social and mental health support for affected landholders. It called for clear land access agreements, a workforce accommodation strategy, and a plan for unplanned closure of the site.
Download and view the submission here.
