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.
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. The licence does not allow mining activities.
In January 2024, VHM applied to Resources Victoria’s Earth Resources Regulator for a mining licence (MIN007256). Details about the application and how the public could submit objections and comments were published in three newspapers by VHM.
Following this process, the regulator undertook a thorough assessment of VHM’s application. Community comments received during the feedback period were considered as part of the decision on whether to grant a licence.
Current status
In April 2025, the Regulator granted VHM mining licence number MIN007256.
The licence permits the development of the mine over a 20-year period for a mineral sands mining and processing operation. It is proposed that the mine and processing plant will operate 24 hours, 7 days a week.
The project site includes slurry pipelines, power and water supply infrastructure, and additional site buildings, workshops and fuel storage.
The excavation method involves strip mining, to be progressively rehabilitated to re-establish the former agricultural land use.
Before construction works and mining operations can commence, a work plan must be approved by the regulator. The approval process involves a detailed assessment of the intended approach to the work, including any risks to environment or the public. This approach must also be consistent with any findings from the Environment Effects Statement process.
A rehabilitation bond must also be lodged.
Project background
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.
Prior to construction of the mine commencing, VHM needs approval of a work plan that incorporates all the EES recommendations.
The proposed Goschen Rare Earths and Mineral Sands Project is also being considered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Page last updated: 15 Apr 2025