6 December 2021

After months of public hearings and on-the-ground campaigning, the Minister for Planning has assessed the environmental effects of the Fingerboards mineral sands mine as unacceptable.

This means that the 1,675-hectare open cut mine is now unlikely to proceed, which is a massive win for our client, Mine-free Glenaladale, who led a strong community campaign to stop this mine.

The proposed mine would have been adjacent to the heritage-listed Mitchell River, upstream of the Gippsland Lakes and the Perry River’s unique ‘Chain of Ponds’, and immediately upwind of the highly productive food-growing area of the Lindenow Valley.

The community raised concerns about the environmental impacts of the proposed mine including the contamination of waterways, excessive water extraction, the risks from exposure to nasty toxins like radiation, along with the loss of more than 200 hectares of endangered and vulnerable native vegetation and habitat for threatened wildlife.

Over 85 percent of the community wanted to keep it mine-free. And more than 260 of our supporters took action by writing a letter to the Minister.

The Minister for Planning, Richard Wynne MP, has assessed the environmental effects of the proposed mine as unacceptable, meaning the mine can only proceed if decision-makers disregard the Minister’s Assessment.

This is a huge win for a community-driven campaign, that was backed by over 260 of our supporters. Thank you to everyone who took action by writing to the Minister for Planning – we couldn’t have done it without your support!