Wednesday, 25 May 2022

Lowan electorate

Ms KEALY (Lowan) (14:39): (6368) My question is to the Minister for Resources. In 2019 I wrote to the then minister to raise concerns of Mirranatwa Landcare Group regarding the Victorian government’s release of local ground within the Stavely Arc to the right to be considered for a minerals exploration licence. The response from the minister assured the local community that:

Ground within the Victoria Valley (including the Mirranatwa region) was exempted from this release and the exemption is expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Given this commitment by the government, locals have been surprised to see recent activity by a mining company in the Victoria Valley. I therefore ask the minister: why is mining activity being undertaken in the Victoria Valley when just three years ago your predecessor committed that this region was exempt from mining activity for the foreseeable future?