Victoria’s New Minister for Energy and Resources Jaclyn Symes needs to address the proposed application for the Avonbank mineral sands mine as a matter of top priority.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and the Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy, said the application carried serious concerns over water security, the integrity of the Environmental Effects Statement, and the protection of productive agricultural land and existing farm and food operations, all of which had so far fallen on deaf ears with the Labor government.
“There are too many unanswered questions, too many shortcomings in the assessment process and too much at stake for agriculture and food production in our region. This should be urgently addressed by Jaclyn Symes as she begins in her new ministry,” Ms Kealy said.
“I have been actively involved in holding this application to account, raising concerns around the impact of this project on agricultural land and local farming businesses with former Premier Jacinta Allan and the former Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio.”
The proposed mine sits amongst productive Wimmera farmland and directly adjoins the Wimmera Agriculture and Logistics Hub, home to numerous agricultural businesses including the new $500-million Farm Frites potato processing facility currently under construction.
Ms Kealy said the recent Labor upheaval that saw the Premier and the minister resign from their posts was an opportunity for a renewed focus on the dangers of a mineral sands mine, and has called on the new Premier to back up his claim that he would take a different approach to his predecessors.
“Since becoming Premier, Ben Carroll has been at pains to point out he is not Jacinta Allan. But actions speak louder than words, and he and Jaclyn Symes need to prove that by taking a responsible, consultative approach to a project that has so far been given lip service by the Labor government,” Ms Kealy said.
“I support responsible mining and the jobs and investment it can bring to regional Victoria, but I do not support the Avonbank mining licence being approved.
“We have farmers, agricultural businesses and hundreds of millions of dollars being invested in food production right next door. Yet incredibly, the independent panel appointed to assess the Avonbank EES did not include a single agricultural expert.”
The Avonbank application is just one example of why Ms Kealy will shortly introduce the Agricultural Land and Food Security Bill to Parliament.
“Agriculture cannot continually be treated as the land use that simply has to make way whenever another project comes along,” Ms Kealy said.
“My bill will seek to ensure the value of productive agricultural land and Victoria’s long-term food security are given proper weight when major projects compete for farmland.
“Avonbank demonstrates why that reform is needed – productive farms, unresolved water concerns and major food-processing investment right next door, yet no agricultural expert on the EES panel.
“I have stood with local farmers throughout this process and I will continue to fight to protect their land, their water and the future of food production in our region.
“The Wimmera’s productive farmland, water resources, agricultural businesses and future food production are simply too important to gamble with.”