Victorian Greens leader, Ellen Sandell, tabled a petition in Parliament with just under 3400 signatures.
The petition requested to permanently exempt the Fingerboards project area from all mining, in recognition that mining was assessed as not environmentally sustainable at this location for those reasons given in the Fingerboards Mineral Sands report (November 2021).
The report assessed the mine project would have unacceptable environmental effects and should not proceed at this location. Protection of the horticultural area in the Lindenow Valley was seen as necessary.
Mine Free Glenaladale (MFG) said Ellen had toured the Fingerboards area twice and had met with community members taking on board their concerns.
“The Greens party was the only political party that had supported Mine Free Glenaladale and the community during the opposition to the original Kalbar proposal,” Mine Free Glenaladale spokerpserson, Robyn Grant said.
“Greens MP Tim Read had presented the first petition to Parliament opposing the project.
“The threat to the environment and the horticultural and agricultural industries is still real despite the changes Gippsland Critical Minerals have made to Kalbar’s failed project.
“The Gippsland Critical Minerals’ project is still in the same location with all the same threats which were outlined in the report following an extensive EES process.
“The number of signatures collected in just over nine months certainly shows that opposition to the mine is still strong.”
The workplan for Gippsland Critical Minerals demonstration pit was approved by Resources Victoria last week.
