Concerns surrounding soil stability, chemical use and groundwater monitoring at the Fingerboards test pit site have been raised by community group Mine Free Glenaladale (MFG), while project proponent Gippsland Critical Minerals maintains that its operations adhere to strict environmental safeguards and global industry standards.
The discussion centres on the management of in-pit tailings disposal at the proposed mineral sands project, located near the Mitchell and Perry River catchments.
MFG spokesperson Robyn Grant questioned whether government authorities and the Earth Resources Regulator had fully addressed recommendations from the 2021 Environment Effects Statement (EES) Independent Advisory Committee regarding multi-year soil studies prior to works.
“This was a disturbing oversight by government authorities considering the location of the test pit and the practice of in-pit tailings disposal,” Ms Grant said.
Ms Grant expressed concern that while in-pit tailings avoid above-ground storage dams, the practice can present risks to local aquifers if physical and chemical properties are not comprehensively sampled prior to disposal. She cited potential impacts on regional groundwater systems relied upon by local irrigators and food producers, as well as questions regarding the long-term accessibility of radiation and waste management plans.
In response, a spokesperson for Gippsland Critical Minerals (GCM) confirmed that in-pit tailings disposal is widely recognised as global best practice for mineral sands projects, avoiding the need for large permanent tailings dams by returning processed material directly back into the excavated pit.
GCM confirmed the site operates as a Mining and Rehabilitation Demonstration Pit, specifically constructed to test soil stability, earthworks properties and long-term landform behaviour in situ.
Addressing groundwater safety, a GCM spokesperson stated that monitoring confirms the demonstration pit does not interact with the regional groundwater system, noting that no perched groundwater was encountered during excavation.
“The pit’s lowest point is more than 50 metres above the water table, about the length of an Olympic size swimming pool,” the GCM spokesperson said.
“Post-rehabilitation monitoring will continue over multiple seasons, with results reported to the regulator. If the data ever showed something we didn’t expect, we’d act on it and say so.”
Addressing community questions regarding process chemicals, GCM said that no toxic processing chemicals are used in the primary separation process. While the project uses an anionic flocculant (Nalco 82258) to assist in settling clay particles in the pipeline, GCM confirmed that independent NATA-accredited laboratory testing was conducted to determine the lowest effective dosage, binding the water-treatment polymer to fine clay particles to keep recycled water environmentally benign.
GCM also confirmed it holds a Radiation Management Licence for the site issued by the Victorian Department of Health under the Radiation Act 2005.
“As required by the licence, GCM prepared and submitted a Radiation Management Plan and Radiation Waste Management Plan before work began. This is standard regulatory practice for a critical minerals operation of this type,” the GCM spokesperson said.
“The plans were assessed and approved by the regulator, GCM must comply with them and is subject to ongoing oversight and audit. As plans are the remit of the Department of Health, any request for access should be directed to the regulator.”
GCM added that where information is the company’s to release — including real-time weather monitoring data, annual reports and technical study details — it is published directly on its website.
Regulatory oversight of the test pit site remains under the jurisdiction of the Earth Resources Regulator and the Victorian Department of Health.
