The public submission periods for four mineral exploration licence applications are opening following the recent North Central Victorian Goldfield Ground Release tender announcement.
The public has an opportunity to comment on the applications of Southern Star Exploration and Fosterville Gold Mine ahead of them being assessed by Earth Resources Regulation.
The comment period for Southern Star Exploration’s licence application is currently open and will close on Wednesday 1 December 2021. The comment period for Fosterville Gold Mine’s application will open on Wednesday 17 November 2021 and close Wednesday 8 December 2021.
Comments can be made through the Have Your Say page on the Earth Resources website.
The Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions will hold online information sessions soon to update local communities on planned minerals exploration and outline how they can contribute to the licence application assessment process.
The information sessions will also outline the obligations of explorers and environmental safeguards and there will be opportunities for attendees to ask questions. Those interested can register to attend one of three online sessions at earthresources.vic.gov.au.
| Date | Thursday 18 November 2021 | Wednesday 24 November 2021 | Thursday 25 November 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | 7pm-8.30pm | 7pm-8.30pm | 3.30pm-5pm |
Fosterville Gold Mine and Southern Star Exploration were granted the exclusive right to apply for a minerals exploration licence over blocks following extensive evaluations of their tender submissions, including responsible exploration and for the first-time input from Traditional Owners.
Should minerals exploration licences be granted, the companies are set to invest $100 million searching for gold.
Minerals exploration is a different activity to mining, it is the first step in determining if any minerals are present. Explorers use low-impact methods to understand local geology and look for evidence of minerals over a large area, then typically focus on a smaller zone.
If an exploration licence is granted and a commercially viable deposit identified, a separate process toward mining would involve environmental assessment and extensive local engagement.
