Microscope on the Wimmera

Victoria’s peak mining advocacy group has reported an exploration spending boom in regional Victoria as companies ramp up efforts in search of precious metals, especially gold.

Minerals Council of Australia’s Victoria executive director James Sorahan said much of the activity was occurring across the Wimmera.

He said Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed exploration spending in Victoria reached an historic high of $35.6-million in the first three months of 2020.

“It was mostly on gold. Victoria has had the fourth highest exploration spend so far in 2020, above the Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania,” he said.

“Victoria has produced more than 80-million ounces of gold since the gold rush. There might be almost as much gold still to be uncovered with estimates that there could be up to 75-million ounces of gold still to be found in parts of the central and western Victorian gold zones.”

Mr Sorahan said of more than 200 exploration licences or applications for licences in Victoria, more than 30 were in the Wimmera, spanning from Ararat to the South Australian border and from Warracknabeal to Balmoral.

He said the search involved more than 15 exploration companies looking for mineral sands, gold, platinum and base metals such as copper, silver and tin and the number of exploration licences was set to grow in the region.

“Exploration in the region employs geologists, drill-rig operators and technicians,” he said.

“Regional communities will benefit from the development of Victoria’s resources because most jobs in mining and exploration are in the regions.”

Exploration licences allow explorers to search for gold and other minerals in a defined area, but fall short of entitling a company to mine an area.

Mr Sorahan said the minerals sector, from exploration to mining, played an important role in regional development.

“Exploration and mining has high-paying jobs and supports small and medium-sized Victorian businesses servicing mines and explorers,” he said.

“Victorian mining is a bigger employer than most people realise. Victoria’s gold-mining sector employs hundreds of direct workers in each of Victoria’s four main gold mines.

“Mineral sands projects could create hundreds more direct jobs in coming years and employ locals for decades at long-life mines. There are also jobs reliant on mining in areas including equipment manufacturing and computer systems design in regional centres.”

Mr Sorahan said during a presentation to Western Victorian Careers Expo participants in June he encouraged young people to consider mining if they wanted to stay in the region and were interested in trades, science and geology.

“Regional Victoria has a bright future in mining,” he said.

The prospect of a growth of mining in the region has traditionally generated a mixed response from regional agricultural producers and some communities.

Some have welcomed the prospect of diversity and the potential of industries offsetting each other with benefits in areas such as employment, transport and infrastructure.

Others have been concerned about the longterm impact of mining on productive agricultural land and environmental assets.