Across north western Victoria, massive critical minerals developments threaten farming, landscapes, local economies and ground and water supplies. There are five main projects currently planned. More than 42,000 hectares of farm land are currently under retention licences. There are also legacy issues from older projects, which have not been properly rehabilitated. Dr John Russell, an independent researcher/soils expert says that to date, every mine he has investigated, where the mining operator claimed to have restored the land post-mining, showed land severely compromised in its productive capacity.
And in Gippsland, Gippsland Critical Minerals is developing the Fingerboards Project, which will have an enormous impact on an important food bowl of Victoria, right next to the Mitchell River.
Each of these projects are subject to an assessment and approvals process. However, local farming communities feel that the assessment system is broken, ignores their concerns and allows approval of destructive projects. And there has been no attempt by the regulator or the state government to understand the cumulative impacts of these projects combined across an important food production area.
We ask you to support the call for the state government to announce an immediate halt on any further assessment or approval of any aspect of critical minerals projects until there has been an independent and comprehensive analysis done of the cumulative impacts of these projects.
Our reports, media releases and commentary
- A visit to the north west (June 2026)
- A report from Glenaladale (September 2026)
- A response to clearing of remnant Buloke trees near Donald (September 2026)
"Wimmera-based farming group, the Dunmunkle Land Protection Group reports that ‘The Donald Mineral Sands mine is pushing ahead, as trees, fauna, and farms fall to the ground. The community is calling for leadership to secure protection of biodiversity and prime agricultural land’.
Mr Andrew Weidemann AM, Chairman of the Dunmunkle Land Protection Group (DLPG) said “Victorian and Federal politicians must ensure that Australia’s push into mineral sands and energy policies do not put food security at risk for the sake of multi-national company profits and a few dollars for governments.”
“Over the past three months, Wimmera community members have witnessed nothing but a path of destruction with stands of Buloke (Allocasuarina leuhmanii) trees falling to the ground as the operators of the Donald Mineral Sands mine clear a path to commence operations”.
In the Wimmera region, the formerly extensive Buloke Woodlands are now represented by many scattered small remnants. The DMS Project area is generally highly modified and has a long history of agriculture. However, some remnant native vegetation occurs in patches, including roadside reserves. A significant number of these remaining high value trees have been destroyed (September 2026). Estimates from locals are that between 100 and 150 mature trees have been destroyed.
This unacceptable impact is another reason why we need a halt on all further development of critical minerals projects until there is an understanding of the cumulative impacts of these proposed mines.
Further information and getting involved
1/ Sign our open letter calling for a moratorium
Please sign our open letter calling on all candidates and parties to support the call for an immediate halt on any further assessment or approval of any aspect of critical minerals projects until there has been an independent and comprehensive analysis done of the cumulative impacts of these projects.
2/ Please ask your local candidates to support the open letter
Please approach your local candidates for the November state election and ask them to sign on to the open letter.
Just copy the open letter text (available here) and ask your candidate to support the letter publicly. If they do so please let us know so we can announce and thank them. [email protected]
You can find a listing of candidates in regional Victoria here.
Find out more about the planned mines
To learn more about these projects, please check the ARMR website. Scroll down to find details on the mines.
3/ Support the local groups
Mine Free Mallee Farms Inc
Mine Free Mallee Farms Inc (MFMF) is a dedicated community group who are passionate about protecting their prime agricultural cropping country, their health, homes and lifestyle from mining. VHM Limited is proposing to develop the Goschen Rare Earths and Mineral Sands Project about 35km south of Swan Hill in the Gannawarra Shire Council and intends to mine and process heavy mineral sands and rare earth minerals.
Check the Mine Free Wimmera Farms facebook page here.
Mine Free Glenaladale
You can find their website here.
And Facebook here.
Alliance for Responsible Mining Regulation (ARMR)
You can find their website here.
4/ Educate and mobilise the community
FoE has started to do information stalls at regional events like weekly community markets and farmers markets. We are educating the community about the threats to agriculture and food security. We are encouraging people to sign the moratorium letter and contact their local candidates. If you would like to get involved locally, then please get in touch: [email protected]
5/ Support our work with a tax deductible donation.
Any funds received via this link will be used to support our work against critical minerals projects.