Community members and agricultural leaders recently met with the Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, and Resources Victoria chief executive Matt Vincent, to voice ongoing opposition to the proposed Fingerboards mineral sands mine.
The meeting, facilitated by the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), allowed local landholders, vegetable growers, and community advocates to outline the human, economic, and environmental risks they believe the project poses to East Gippsland.
A local landholder whose property sits inside the proposed mining licence area told the Minister that the community views the project as a re-packaged version of the original Kalbar proposal, which was rejected by the state government following an Environment Effects Statement (EES) process in 2021. The landholder challenged Gippsland Critical Minerals’ (GCM) assertions that a reduced footprint, a 1.5-kilometre buffer zone, and an extended 20-year mine life would successfully shield the region from dust, noise and heavy traffic.
Community members also disputed the company’s employment forecasts, arguing that the projected figure of 700 total construction and operational jobs is over-ambitious compared to similar Australian operations. Further viability concerns were raised, including the final mine void depth increasing to 58 metres, softening global commodity prices for zircon and titanium, and a surge in competing rare earth developments globally.
The delegation concluded that the core finding of the 2021 independent inquiry — that the location is inherently unsuitable for large-scale mining — was being sidelined.
GCM has previously defended its renewed scope, stating its active Mining and Rehabilitation Demonstration Pit (MRDP) and updated environmental studies are designed to verify safety, water management, and progressive rehabilitation under real operating conditions. The company maintains the project will deliver significant economic investment while meeting strict environmental benchmarks.
However, Kane Busch, of family-run organic producer Busch Organics, highlighted severe operational threats to the region’s agricultural hub. Mr Busch warned that dust and potential radionuclides could devastate local organic certifications, while any contamination of local aquifers or the Mitchell River would compromise the entire Lindenow Valley horticultural industry, triggering state and national food security issues. He highlighted the irreplaceable qualities of the valley—its mild climate, fertile soils, and reliable water access—contrasting it with traditional growing regions closer to Melbourne now constrained by urban sprawl.
Glenaladale resident Sharon Clerke focused on the heavy social toll, noting that living under the continuous threat of a local mine project for more than 12 years has created immense financial and emotional distress for families. On water access, Ms Clerke argued that extracting water from the Mitchell River would directly impact local growers and reduce environmental flows into the Gippsland Lakes, adding that GCM’s alternative plan to use recycled water from East Gippsland Water raised distinct concerns regarding potential salt and pharmaceutical residues contaminating food crops.
Concerns were also raised regarding the potential impact on First Nations cultural heritage, with advocates noting that the altered plans could jeopardise a larger footprint than the 570 hectares threatened under the previous proposal.
Mine Free Glenaladale spokesperson Robyn Grant stated that the project’s negative impacts on tourism had been drastically overlooked, noting that safe, clean waterways are vital to recreational fishing and the broader visitor experience.
Representatives also questioned why the active test pit had been approved before the completion of multi-year environmental studies recommended by the initial independent inquiry.
Ms Grant asserted that the current community consultation framework had been inadequate, failing to provide meaningful technical data to the local residents most vulnerable to the mine’s impacts.
The delegation closed the meeting by thanking Minister D’Ambrosio and Mr Vincent for traveling to the region to hear their concerns directly, while extending their gratitude to the VFF for coordinating the forum.
