Tuesday, 28 October 2025

 Emma KEALY (Lowan) (01:47): (1360) My adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for Energy and Resources. The action I seek is for the minister to initiate a comprehensive review of Victoria’s mineral sands mining regulatory framework, including the environment effects statement process and mining activity oversight, to strengthen safeguards for productive farmland in the Wimmera and Southern Mallee, to ensure fair compensation for affected landholders and to deliver a fair share of mining royalties back into local communities through improved infrastructure and services.

The Wimmera region is home to some of the most productive farmland in Victoria, supporting a thriving agricultural economy that sustains local jobs and exports, yet our region is also now at the forefront of mineral sands exploration and development, with multiple large-scale projects proposed or underway. While these projects promise economic opportunity, they also bring deep concern among farmers and residents about the potential long-term impacts on soil health, groundwater, agricultural productivity and export markets. Many feel that the current mining regulatory framework is not providing the level of independence, transparency and accountability that such high-stakes projects demand. Likewise, compensation arrangements for affected landholders are often inadequate and fail to reflect instances where the agricultural productivity of an area of land which has been mined is reduced. Profitability on farms is also impacted by higher input costs due to high weed load and reduced organic matter in soil, and in some instances contamination of topsoil with boron and chlorine during rehabilitative land works.

Modern farming involves an incredible amount of data collection and mapping of soils. Farmers can therefore provide evidence of their soils prior to mining activities taking place, and a reduction in productivity can be measured. This evidence-based reduction in productivity of restored land should be included in all compensation agreements. In addition to stronger safeguards, the Wimmera deserves to see real, lasting benefits from the mineral wealth being extracted from our region. That means ensuring a fair return of mining royalties to fund critical local infrastructure, including investment in roads, rail, hospitals, schools and housing to support both industry and community growth. Mining should not leave regional communities worse off. It should help us build stronger, more resilient towns that can thrive long after mine operations cease. A comprehensive review should therefore examine stronger protection mechanisms for high-value agricultural land in the Wimmera; transparent and independent compensation and valuation processes for affected landholders, particularly in relation to compensation for reduction in land productivity; improved independent oversight and enforcement of environmental and rehabilitation conditions; and a framework to reinvest a fair share of mining royalties back into local communities through infrastructure, housing and regional development projects. The Wimmera’s farmland is too valuable economically, socially and environmentally to be treated as expendable, and I urge the minister to act to ensure that mineral sands development is safeguarded for the future.