Northern Victoria Region
Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:42): (1645) My question is for the Minister for Planning. Last month the minister granted Fosterville Gold Mine approval to massively expand its operations. This is despite a range of concerns raised by local community members and environmental organisations. Nearby residents have described damages to their homes and noise all throughout the night, and last November blasting at the mine caused a 3.6-magnitude earthquake. The mine’s own environment effects statement revealed the expansion would result in habitat loss for several threatened species, including the swift parrot, and at vulnerable ecosystems such as the Campaspe River, a major catchment located right next to the mine, and there are significant concerns arsenic is being released into it from the mine. Considering that this project has already been given the green light, how will the minister ensure the range of environmental mitigation measures outlined in the assessment of the project will actually be adopted?