The Weekly Advertiser – Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Page 1

Vol. No. Vol. 2418No. 27 27

FREE PUBLICATION

Wednesday, January January 19, 13, 2022 2016 Wednesday,

A FREE PUBLICATION FROM YOUR LOCAL RADIO STATIONS 3WM AND MIXXFM

Mining watch

B

BY MICHAEL SCALZO

rimpaen farmer and former Horsham mayor David Grimble has emphasised a need for ongoing community consultation and transparency as mineral exploration continues throughout the region.

BIG DAY APPROACHING: Horsham’s Bonnie Werner, 5, pictured with mum Carly and little brother Louis, 2, will join thousands of children across Victoria experiencing school for the first time later this month. Back-to-school feature, see pages 21-25. Picture: DEAN LAWSON

Mr Grimble, in response to questions about mining exploration on the Grampians’ northern fringe, said maintaining open lines of communication between mining companies and communities was essential. WIM Resource, developing Avonbank mineral-sands mine at Dooen, north of Horsham, is also on the hunt for gold and copper deposits. It secured a five-year exploration licence on a 757-square-kilometre Stavely Block in Brimpaen district in September, 2019, and has started the search. It is one of many mining companies searching for valuable resources across the Wimmera-Mallee. Brimpaen exploration is mainly occurring on sheep and cereal farming land and is relatively close to national parkland. “Community engagement should remain the main focus throughout this period,” Mr Grimble said. “It is so important to keep those lines of communication open, especially if there is variation in the direction of the project. The community needs to be informed every step of the way.” The prospect of mineral exploration in the area has generated mixed community feeling. Mr Grimble said while mining operations at Brimpaen might have enormous economic potential in the region, opaque communication and project variations had been a problem between other mine operators and communities in the past. He said experience of negative sentiment

in the region’s southwest in 2015, which involved a different mining company and project, provided an example of what could happen when community expectation failed to match mine-project development. He said deviations of procedures outlined during community consultations surrounding mining by-product management and land-rehabilitation practices by another company at the time ‘upset a lot of people’. “There was initial project support but that was wound back towards the end when the company varied its project plan,” he said. Mr Grimble said local government had a major role to ensure regional communities remained informed of any changes made by mine operators. “Local government needs to keep them accountable and ensure they provide updates to the community. The better they can engage with the community, the better it is for everyone,” he said. WIM Resource stakeholder liaison officer Murray Wilson, meanwhile, said his company stood strongly by its reputation for community engagement. He also assured stakeholders that the company would keep everyone well informed of developments. “We’re very pleased to have established successful and ongoing relationships with people in the project area,” he said. “WIM Resource prides itself on leading the way in stakeholder engagement and we’re regularly in contact with landholders. “We’ve had forums for the general community and we also have an office in Horsham where people can readily get in contact with staff members to find out what’s happening in detail. “We’re also explaining to everyone what we’re doing at markets, field days and other community events.” Continued page 3

IN THIS ISSUE • Littleproud: Potential for value-adding • Australia Day events • Hornets win Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au

AUDITED: 22,403 COPIES

October 2020 to September 2021

Source: AMAA; CAB Total Distribution Audit for further information visit www.auditedmedia.org.au

KMART SPOTLIGHT BEST AND LESS REJECT SHOP WIDE RANGE OF SPECIALTY STORES WWW.HORSHAMPLAZA.COM.AU


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
The Weekly Advertiser – Wednesday, January 19, 2022 by The Weekly Advertiser - Issuu