Thursday, 4 December 2025

 Ellen SANDELL (Melbourne) presented a petition bearing 3322 signatures:

The Petition of concerned Victorians, in particular East Gippsland residents, draws to the attention of the House the Minister for Planning’s Assessment of the ‘Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project’ (Nov 2021). It was assessed that the mine project would have unacceptable environmental effects and should not proceed, and furthermore, that mining was not an acceptable land use at this location (p58–60). Protection of the surrounding agricultural industries and the important horticultural fields of the Lindenow Valley was emphasised. This protection can best be achieved by the Fingerboards Project area being declared exempt from all mining activity. The horticulture fields of the Lindenow Valley were exempted from mining in July 2019; to further protect this and other agricultural industries, mining at the Fingerboards project area must be banned.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly of Victoria Request the Minister for Resources to exercise her/his power under section 7 of the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 and permanently exempt the Fingerboards project area from all mining activity in recognition that mining was assessed as not environmentally sustainable at this location for the numerous reasons given in the above report.

Ordered that petition be considered tomorrow.