Avonbank Mineral Sands Project
The proposed Avonbank Mineral Sands Project is located in western Victoria, with the boundary approximately 8 kilometres north-east of Horsham.
The Avonbank deposit contains approximately 300 million tonnes of ore, hosting commercial quantities of zircon, titanium and associated rare earth elements.
WIM Resource Pty Ltd (WIM) was granted a retention licence (RL2014) for the site in September 2014. This allowed the company to continue its geoscientific and technical work to evaluate the deposit’s potential to become a commercially viable mine. The licence does not allow mining activities.
WIM is proposing the development of up to 3,426 hectares over a 38-year period for a mineral sands mining and processing operation. Under the proposal, the site will operate 24 hours every day of the year.
The project site would also include slurry pipelines, power and water supply infrastructure and additional site buildings, workshops and fuel storage.
The excavation method would involve open-pit mining, which will be progressively rehabilitated to re-establish the former agricultural land use. At any given time, the extent of project disturbance within the mining licence area will be less than around 340 hectares.
Mine products are proposed to be transported via road to the Port of Portland for export overseas.
Current status
In March 2025, Resources Victoria’s Earth Resources Regulator (ERR) accepted WIM’s mining licence application (MIN008642). Details about the application and how the public could submit objections and comments were published in two newspapers by WIM.
The statutory feedback period closed on 9 April 2025. The regulator is now undertaking a thorough assessment of WIM’s application. Community feedback will be considered as part of the decision on whether to grant a licence.
Should a mining licence be granted, a work plan would need to be approved by ERR prior to any mining starting. The work plan assessment involves a detailed assessment of the intended approach to the work, including any risks to the environment or the public. This approach would need to be consistent with any findings from the Environment Effects Statement process.
A rehabilitation bond would also need to be lodged.
On 4 April 2025, the Federal Government granted approval under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) for the Avonbank Mineral Sands Project to proceed with conditions attached. Read the Notification of Approval Decision on the EPBC Act Public Portal.
Project background
On 17 August 2019, the Minister for Planning determined an Environment Effects Statement (EES) was required for the proposed Avonbank Mineral Sands Project under the Environment Effects Act 1978.
An EES is an assessment of the potential impacts on the environment of a proposed project or development. Learn more about the EES process at the Department of Transport and Planning website.
WIM’s EES described the proposed Avonbank Mineral Sands Project, assessed its potential environmental impacts (including key ones the Minister determined must be addressed) and identified measures to minimise these impacts.
The full EES, including detailed technical reports, is available on the WIM Resource website.
Following public exhibition of this EES, public hearings and a report from the independent Avonbank Mineral Sands Inquiry and Advisory Committee, the Minister for Planning announced that the EES had received a favourable assessment in December 2024.
Prior to construction of the mine commencing, WIM needs approval of a work plan that incorporates all the EES recommendations.
Page last updated: 11 Apr 2025