Goschen Rare Earths and Mineral Sands Project
The Goschen Rare Earths and Mineral Sands Project is located approximately 35 km south of Swan Hill in north-west Victoria.
The Goschen deposit contains an estimated 629 million tonnes of ore, hosting commercial quantities of zircon, titanium and rare earth elements.
Background
VHM Ltd (VHM) was granted a retention licence (RL006806) for the site in January 2020. This allowed the company to continue its geoscientific and technical work to evaluate the deposit’s potential to become a commercially viable mine. A retention licence does not allow mining activities.
In January 2024, VHM applied to Resources Victoria for a mining licence. Details about the application and how the public could submit objections and comments were published in three newspapers by VHM.
Following an assessment of the company’s application, in April 2025 VHM was granted a mining licence (MIN007256) for a mineral sands mining and processing operation. The licence permits the development of up to 1,534 hectares over a 20-year period.
The decision to grant the mining licence followed favourable assessment by the Victorian Minister for Planning of the company’s Environment Effects Statement (EES) and the Federal Government granting approval under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC).
Community feedback was also considered as part of Resources Victoria’s decision.
In October 2025, the Department of Premier and Cabinet approved the Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) for the project. VHM subsequently submitted its work plan to Resources Victoria for assessment.
Current status
On 28 November 2025, Resources Victoria approved the work plan for the project, paving the way for the commencement of construction activities to prepare for mining.
In approving the plan, Resources Victoria conducted a thorough assessment of the company’s intended approach to the work. This included ensuring any risks to the environment or the public were minimised and all conditions resulting from the EES process were met.
Under the approved work plan, the company will mine and process up to 5 million tonnes of mineral sands annually over 20 years.
The excavation method involves shallow open-pit mining, which will be progressively rehabilitated to return the land to a productive state suitable for both agricultural use and native vegetation. Progressive rehabilitation means only 400 hectares of land will be disturbed at any one time during mining.
A rehabilitation bond must be lodged (with the bond amount to be determined by Resources Victoria) before construction commences.
Stringent controls have been put in place to ensure naturally occurring radioactive materials are rigorously monitored, maintained within safe levels, and reported on. The company must also monitor air quality throughout the life of the project and publish real-time dust level data on its website in a format that can be easily understood by the public.
In addition, the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 requires VHM to regularly consult with the community for the duration of its licence.
Resources Victoria’s compliance inspectors will oversee all mining operations. Environment Protection Authority (Victoria) and WorkSafe Victoria will also administer their areas of responsibility. The Department of Health will ensure the safe management of radioactive materials and licensing of regulated activities.
Environmental assessments
On 10 October 2018, the Minister for Planning determined an Environment Effects Statement (EES) was required for the proposed Goschen Rare Earths and 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 on the Department of Transport and Planning website.
VHM’s EES described the proposed Goschen Rare Earths and 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 VHM Ltd website.
Following public exhibition of this EES, public hearings and a report from the independent Goschen Mineral Sands and Rare Earths Project Inquiry and Advisory Committee, the Minister for Planning announced that the EES had received a favourable assessment in December 2024.
On 18 September 2025, the Federal Government granted approval under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) for the Goschen Rare Earths and Mineral Sands Project to proceed with conditions attached. Read the Notification of Approval Decision on the EPBC Act Public Portal.
Page last updated: 02 Dec 2025