Victoria’s critical minerals race
Victoria has released its new Critical Minerals Roadmap in an effort to bring a new focus to help develop the state’s minerals resources.
Victoria has many of the critical minerals needed to produce wind turbines, rechargeable batteries and electric vehicles, including zircon, titanium, rare earth elements and antimony.
As part of the roadmap, the Victorian Critical Minerals Coordination Office will be established within Resources Victoria to help to reduce project approval timelines.
Critical Minerals Priority Development Zones will also be defined, so that industry and communities can better understand areas with the highest likelihood of developing successful critical minerals operations.
Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) Victoria executive director James Sorahan says the Critical Minerals Roadmap puts the state firmly on the map as a supplier of strategic minerals.
“MCA Victoria is pleased the roadmap commits to minerals industry policy priorities advocated by the MCA,” he said.
“The focus on clearer and more certain pathways to development is crucial to ensuring Victoria can turn minerals discoveries into mines to benefit Victorians.
“Victoria’s planning approvals process is cumbersome and far too slow which leaves communities and investors in limbo.
“Reforms to the Environmental Effects Statement (EES) process, and the retention of the Resources Victoria Approvals Coordination (RVAC) with a devoted critical minerals element will ensure more certain and timely approvals for investors.
“This sends a strong signal that Victoria is open to investment.
“Victoria’s RVAC is the leading Australian model to shepherd mining projects through complex permitting across multiple regulators.
“The roadmap’s review of licencing arrangements and section 7 ‘no go’ exploration area declarations is long overdue.
“A more transparent processes will ensure a fairer system.
“A clear focus on jobs and skills pathways complements the industry’s work on training pathways in regional areas and promote earth sciences at secondary school to secure a pipeline of Victorians for future industry jobs.
“The longer-term ambition on processing and research and development builds on Victoria’s strengths in advanced manufacturing and education to position Victoria for skilled jobs in mining operations in the regions.
“Victoria sits in the world’s largest known deposits of rare earths rich mineral sands in the Murray Basin, and Victoria hosts Australia’s only antimony mine — a critical mineral essential to defence and battery technology.
“Demand for our rare earths, antinomy and other critical minerals is set to grow as essential inputs to modern technology.”
In 2025, Resources Victoria will investigate benefit sharing models for local communities and Traditional Owners, balancing the interests of all stakeholders to optimise social, environmental and economic outcomes.