PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Victorian government has placed the proposed Fingerboards mineral sands project up for public comment.

Project developer Kalbar Operations is required to prepare an environmental effects statement (EES) for the mineral mining facility proposed to be located 20 km northwest of Bairnsdale.

The EES will be released this week and will be publicly exhibited for 40 business days, 10 days more than usual, allowing community and stakeholders the opportunity to make submissions on the EES as well as the works approval and draft planning scheme amendment which will also be exhibited ahead of a public inquiry.

“Despite the challenges the pandemic presents, it’s important the community can still access what they need to stay informed about the project and to make submission,” Minister for Planning Richard Wynne said.

“For any major project proposed it’s crucial we assess its environmental effects to avoid or minimise impacts on the community or the environment.

“Exhibition of this EES is an important step and we encourage community groups and residents to request their own copies of the EES and make their views known.”

Kalbar CEO Jozsef Patarica said that the release of the EES for public comment was a major milestone for the project, and an opportunity for the community and stakeholders to review the scientific evidence and information available on the project.

“This project can bring many benefits to East Gippsland and the EES demonstrates that the project can be delivered with appropriate management of environmental impacts,” Patarica said.

“On behalf of Kalbar I would like to thank the community for their input during the process and also Kalbar employees who have made a significant contribution to delivering the EES for public exhibition,” he said.

The Fingerboards project includes an openpit operation mining some 170-million tonnes of ore over a projected mine life of 20 years, producing some eight-million tonnes of heavy mineral concentrate.

The project area is approximately 1 675 ha and would establish two mining plants, a processing plant, water supply infrastructure, tailings storage and additional site facilities including an office, warehouse, workshop, loading facilities and fuel storage.

Along with the ongoing EES process, the project requires several other approvals before it can proceed including approvals under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, a mining licence and an approved work plan under the Mineral Resources Act.