A specialist working group has been established to advise Resources Victoria on how to build confidence that mining land can be successfully rehabilitated back for agriculture use.
The Mineral Sands Agricultural Land Restoration Working Group brings together farmers, rehabilitation experts and the resources sector to address concerns about the impact of mineral sands development on the long-term productivity of agricultural land.
The working group consists of members from the Victorian Farmers Federation, local Catchment Management Authorities, Yarriambiack Shire Council, Horsham Rural City Council, Agriculture Victoria and the Minerals Council of Australia. It will be chaired by sustainable mineral resource development expert Professor Mohan Yellishetty from Monash University.
Farmers in the Wimmera and Mallee have expressed concern about how soil productivity can be reliably restored in the region and over what timeframe. A broad range of stakeholders and technical experts will ensure robust, practical and regionally relevant advice is provided to Resources Victoria.
Victoria's Critical Minerals Roadmap is helping drive mineral sands development, which will coexist alongside farming, to benefit the regions where mining takes place.
