WIM Resource applied for a mining licence for the project, spanning 3426 hectares and is about 1.3 kilometres north-east of Dooen, in March, 2025, following State Government approval of the Environment Effects Statement, EES, for the project in 2024.
WIM’s announcements last week came after Horsham Mayor Brian Klowss led criticism of WIM’s planned Avonbank Community and Coexistence Reference Group, saying council would decline an invitation to join the CCRG because it was premature given WIM Resource had not received a mining licence approval.
Cr Klowss said there were still a lot of questions that remained unanswered with the Avonbank mine, and he was dissatisfied with WIM Resource’s response to concerns about community and environmental safety.
In response, WIM Resource announced last week it would publish validated environmental monitoring summaries, including any exceedances and the actions taken in response; provide clearer public-facing maps, distinguishing the proposed mining licence boundary from the area where mining disturbance is proposed, to make it clear no disturbance is permitted to occur over the Dooen rail hard stand; clearly explain how staged mining and progressive rehabilitation would work; and provide a clear pathway for raising concerns and escalating unresolved matters to the appropriate regulator, including a dedicated web page portal.
WIM Resource director of projects Michael Winternitz said WIM welcomed the opportunity to engage with the council and other stakeholders, bringing important community concerns directly to the company, which had helped identify practical ways to build on the project’s established framework.
“WIM has listened, had discussions, made clarifications, and found solutions to HRCC concerns, and remains committed to engaging with HRCC to ensure any further community concerns are addressed,” he said.
WIM Resource director of community and landholder relations Kevin O’Brien said Avonbank was located in an important agricultural region, and WIM recognised the vital role the land played in supporting local families, businesses and communities.
“We welcome community members to visit our website or drop by our community information hub to learn more and have a discussion with our team at 83 Firebrace Street, or you can visit our online information hub to learn about the Avonbank project,” he said.
WIM says it is committed to carefully managing the land, rehabilitating the land back to its productive agricultural use.
But Cr Klowss said there was ‘very little detail’ in WIM’s announcement, making it ‘difficult to comment’ on whether the commitments went far enough to address council and community concerns.
Cr Klowss said WIM had not detailed how it would cover the heavy mineral concentrate.
“At the Port of Portland, heavy mineral concentrate is required to be stored in a shed for good reasons, including minimising cross contamination,” he said.
“Before the council can comment whether this commitment is adequate, we need to understand exactly what is being proposed.”
Cr Klowss said the most disappointing element was the response to the council’s concerns regarding the Dooen rail hard stand, which he said WIM had ‘missed the point entirely’.
“Council has never claimed the company intends to mine beneath the rail hard stand. Our question has always been why a mining licence is required over that land in the first place, and that question remains unanswered,” he said.
Cr Klowss said several other commitments outlined were already a requirement at some level, as part of the Environmental Management Plan for the project.
“For example, publishing environmental monitoring summaries is already a requirement, so there is nothing more being committed,” he said.
“The real issue council continues to raise is the time between monitoring data being collected and then being released to the community.
“Council continues to ask for real-
time monitoring data so communities can see what is happening as it occurs, rather than months or even years after.”
Cr Klowss said commitments relating to rehabilitation, review groups and complaints processes required more detail before it was possible to comment whether they represent meaningful improvements beyond existing obligations.
Mine Free Wimmera Farmers, MFWF, who also raised concerns about WIM Resource’s CCRG earlier this month, criticised WIM for continuing to present promises and commitments as though the project was proceeding, despite the company not yet being granted a mining licence.
MFWF president Russell Heard said the community deserved transparency, not assurances about future operations that remain subject to regulatory approval.
The Weekly Advertiser understands WIM has requested an extension to provide additional evidence supporting its mining licence application, specifically information from the Foreign Investment Review Board.
“We encourage WIM to clarify the status of all regulatory approvals, so the community has a clear and accurate understanding of where the project currently stands,” Mr Heard said.
“While WIM’s announcement contains a number of commitments regarding rehabilitation, dust management and community engagement, these remain promises rather than demonstrated outcomes.
“Public confidence will be earned through facts and demonstrated performance – not media releases.”
Mr Winternitz said WIM Resource continued to work with all relevant agencies on the regulatory approvals required for the project.
“This is standard process for a project of this nature, and WIM remains committed to keeping the community informed as milestones are reached,” he said.
MFWF called on WIM Resource to provide evidence of previous mining projects that WIM had successfully developed and operated; independent evidence demonstrating successful rehabilitation of those projects; and evidence the proposed rehabilitation methods have been successfully implemented in comparable agricultural environments.
Mr Heard said WIM’s commitment to cover the heavy mineral concentrate was inadequate.
“If WIM is serious about minimising dust risks and protecting public health, the HMC should be stored in a fully enclosed shed. Covering stockpiles alone does not provide the level of protection the community expects from a project of this scale,” he said.
Mr Heard said MFWF remained opposed to the proposed freight terminal being included within the mining licence area because public freight infrastructure should not form part of a mining licence.
“The community deserves evidence, transparency and accountability – not assurances about a project that has yet to receive all necessary approvals,” he said.
The entire July 29, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
The entire July 29, 2026 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!
