The Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions is holding online information sessions to update locals about minerals exploration in the Ararat and Stawell area.
The sessions will outline landholder rights, the safeguards in place to protect properties, obligations of exploration companies and the tools available to help landholders negotiate with minerals explorers. There will be opportunities for attendees to ask questions.
Earth Resources Regulation recently issued Victorian-based explorer Gippsland Prospecting the fourth minerals exploration licence following the 2018 Stavely Ground Release.
The licence permits exploration over an 800 square kilometre area west of Ararat and Stawell for gold, copper and other minerals. The area does not include the Grampians National Park.
Gippsland Prospecting will attend the sessions to outline their activities and answer questions. Attendees can register to attend one of two online sessions.
Date |
Tuesday 24 November 2020 |
Wednesday 25 November 2020 |
Session time |
12.30pm-2pm |
7pm-8.30pm |
Minerals exploration brings investment and jobs to regional communities. Gippsland Prospecting expects to spend up to $14 million over the five-year licence period on exploration, they will receive a $500,000 co-funded TARGET Minerals Exploration grant to help fund early-stage activities.
Generally, early-stage exploration activities such as mapping, sampling and rock testing, are the first steps in establishing if minerals are present. If development is considered viable, it typically takes many years to progress toward mining, including meeting regulatory controls.
In Victoria, before an explorer can access privately owned land and commence exploration activities, the explorer requires landholder consent.
Land access consent tools are available to aid negotiations between landholders and exploration companies. Templates will help both parties agree on access to private property, biosecurity protocols and managing any impacts on crops, and potential compensation.
These voluntary tools can be tailored for the specific needs and circumstances of the landholder and were developed in consultation with the Victorian Farmers Federation and the exploration industry. The landholder tools are at earthresources.vic.gov.au/landaccess.
As noted by Executive Director Earth Resources Policy & Programs, Jane Burton:
"Minerals exploration is the first step in determining if minerals are present. If development is considered viable, it takes many years to progress toward mining."
