Kalbar Resources has proposed a mineral sands and rare earths mine at Glenaladale, near Bairnsdale in East Gippsland.
The Fingerboards mine has not yet been approved by the Victorian Government, but after several years of investigation, Kalbar believes the site is suitable for an open cut mine to extract minerals including zircon, rutile and ilmenite — a titanium mineral, and rare earths.
There is still time to influence the Victorian government’s decision on this destructive and unpopular project.
The following has been put together by Mine Free Glenaladale:
Industrialises Where People Live
Over 13 square kilometres of land is to be disturbed for an open-cut mine up to 45m deep, much deeper than other mineral sands and rare earths mines in Australia. It will operate 24/7 with 80 B-double trucks transporting hazardous materials on our local roads. There are 19 directly impacted residences/ landholdings and over 91 landholdings with 79 residences within 2km of the mine’s boundary. This is a highly inappropriate and dangerous location for a mine where people live, work, farm, where food is grown and where children go to primary schools.
Radioactive and Highly Toxic Substances
The substances to be mined are expected to contain highly toxic carcinogenic heavy metals such as Arsenic, Chromium, Thorium, Titanium, Uranium and Vanadium. Airborne silica in the dust if inhaled causes cancer and lung diseases.
Contamination Risks
Kalbar says it can’t control all the dust generated by the mine. Downwind is the Mitchell River (350m), the veggie growing industry in the Mitchell River Valley worth $150M/year (500m) and our drinking water at the Woodglen Reservoir (3.5km). A 90 ha tailings dam containing chemicals/fine tailings is on the Perry River catchment that flows into the Gippsland Lakes. There are major concerns about toxic substances entering the waterways from leaching and flooding.
Huge Demands on Water
3,000,000,000 litres (3GL) of water will be required annually for up to 20 years.
Jobs and Tourism
Hundreds of jobs in agriculture and tourism will be threatened. If the 3GL of water was released to grow more vegetables in the Mitchell River Valley, 3 times more jobs could be created to help feed people and support the local economy.
Find out more about this project
Mine Free Glenaladale is the resident’s group opposing the mine. There are many ways you can support their campaign.
Join their contact list: EMAIL: [email protected] or PH: 0467 629 485
Facebook: ‘Mine-free Glenaladale’ or
Instagram/Facebook: #StopKalbar
Donate to our fighting fund: On “GoFundMe” website, search ‘Mine Free Glenaladale’
Visit our website: www.minefreeglenaladale.org
Take action
Sign and share 2 online petitions @ Change.org (search: ‘Glenaladale’).
Please email the following to request they stop this mine proposal: The Premier Daniel Andrews: [email protected]
Please let the Planning and Resources Ministers know you support local communities and oppose the Kalbar mineral sands mine proposed for East Gippsland.
Hon Richard Wynne, Minister for Planning: [email protected] Hon Jaclyn Symes, Minister for Resources: [email protected]
Friends of the Earth’s materials on this project are available here.
