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Avonbank Information Sheet

Project Overview

The Avonbank Project is a long life critical minerals development proposed north east of Horsham. The information sheet outlines the project’s background, purpose, and expected regional benefits. It explains the scale of the mineral sands deposit, the types of minerals to be produced (zircon, titanium, rare earth elements), and the project’s anticipated economic contribution through jobs, investment, and supply chain activity. It also introduces the staged development approach and WIM Resource’s commitment to responsible operations and community engagement.

Ore Processing

The Ore Processing information sheet outlines how raw ore is transformed into valuable mineral products. It explains that processing at Avonbank uses physical separation methods—such as gravity, magnetic, and electrostatic separation—without chemical leaching. The sheet describes the movement of ore from the mine to the wet concentrator plant, then to the mineral separation plant, where zircon, titanium minerals, and minor rare earth products are produced. It also covers water recycling, tailings management, and the closed‑loop systems designed to minimise environmental impact. The emphasis is on efficient, low‑chemical, modern processing aligned with best practice.

Rehabilitation

This sheet details how mined areas will be progressively restored to productive farmland. It explains the rehabilitation sequence: topsoil removal and storage, backfilling, landform reconstruction, soil replacement, and revegetation. The focus is on returning land to agricultural use with equal or improved productivity. It highlights WIM’s long‑term commitment to land stewardship, monitoring, and collaboration with landholders to ensure successful post‑mining outcomes.

Mining and Mineral Uses

This information sheet explains what mineral sands are, how they are mined, and why they are essential to modern life. It highlights the importance of zircon, titanium, and rare earth elements in everyday products and global decarbonisation technologies (e.g., ceramics, pigments, electronics, renewable energy systems). It positions Avonbank as a contributor to critical mineral supply chains supporting electrification and advanced manufacturing.

Radiation

The radiation information sheet explains that naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) are present in mineral sands but at low levels. It outlines the regulatory framework governing radiation safety and the controls WIM will implement to ensure exposures remain well below national safety thresholds. Measures include routine monitoring, engineered controls, safe handling procedures, and transparent reporting. The sheet reassures the community that radiation risks are low and tightly regulated.

Air Quality

This sheet describes how air quality will be managed throughout the Avonbank Project. It outlines regulatory requirements, dust‑control strategies, and monitoring systems designed to ensure emissions remain within safe limits. Key measures include real‑time dust monitoring, progressive rehabilitation, water‑based dust suppression, and strict operational controls. The sheet emphasises WIM’s commitment to minimising off‑site dust impacts for nearby landholders and communities.

EES Information Sheets

Rehabilitation

The Rehabilitation Information Sheet outlines WIM Resource’s commitment to progressive, responsible land restoration. It explains how topsoil will be carefully stripped, stored, and replaced; how landforms will be reconstructed to match pre‑existing contours; and how revegetation will return land to productive agricultural use. The sheet emphasises that rehabilitation will occur continuously as mining advances, reducing the disturbed footprint at any one time. Long‑term land capability assessments show that post‑mining land will be suitable for ongoing farming, consistent with regional land use and community expectations.

Noise & Vibration

The Noise and Vibration Information Sheet summarises the predicted noise and vibration levels from mining, processing, and transport activities, and compares them with Victorian regulatory limits. Modelling shows that with the proposed mitigation measures—such as equipment selection, bunding, restricted operating hours for certain activities, and ongoing monitoring—noise and vibration levels at nearby residences will comply with required standards. The assessment concludes that impacts will be low, manageable, and subject to continuous oversight to ensure community amenity is maintained.

Groundwater

The Groundwater Information Sheet summarises how the project interacts with local groundwater systems and what measures are in place to protect water users. It describes the hydrogeological studies undertaken, including modelling of potential drawdown, water quality changes, and interactions with surface water. The findings indicate that groundwater impacts are expected to be low and manageable, with monitoring bores, adaptive management triggers, and regulatory oversight ensuring that agricultural users, stock and domestic bores, and environmental values remain protected throughout the life of the project.

Air Quality

The Air Quality Information Sheet outlines how the Avonbank Project will manage and minimise dust and emissions during construction, operations, and rehabilitation. It explains the modelling undertaken to predict potential impacts on nearby residences and farmland, and details the dust suppression measures—such as water carts, progressive rehabilitation, and real‑time monitoring—that will be used to maintain compliance with Victorian air quality standards. The assessment concludes that with these controls in place, the project is expected to meet regulatory requirements and avoid unacceptable impacts on community or environmental health.