On 14 February 2026, the Victorian Minister for Planning, the Hon. Sonya Kilkenny MP, decided that an environmental effect statement (EES) is required for the Fingerboards Critical Minerals Project and gave reasons for her decision.

The project is described in the reasons as:

“a proposed mineral sand mine located in in Glenaladale, East Gippsland, approximately 25 km west of Bairnsdale. The project would involve the extraction and processing of approximately 156 million tonnes of mineral sand ore to produce approximately 6.1 Mt of heavy mineral concentrate (HMC) over an approximate 22-year period using a mining technique incorporating progressive backfill and rehabilitation.

The Mining Licence Area would incorporate six mining pits, a processing area and other mine site infrastructure. Ancillary project components to support mining and processing operations include transport infrastructure (internal haul road and a rail siding at Fernbank East), power supply infrastructure (a new substation, overhead and internal powerlines, and back-up power generation) and water supply and storage (Latrobe Group Aquifer borefield, pump stations, pipelines and a freshwater storage dam).”

The Minister’s reasons given for requiring an EES include that “the project has the potential for significant environmental effects as a result of the spatial extent and duration of the proposed mining and its substantial ancillary components, together with the nature of the existing environment.”

See the full reasons given.

The Minister’s decision set out necessary procedures and requirements for the EES under section 8B(5) of the Environment Effects Act 1978 (Vic), including that:

“(i) (t)he EES is to document investigations of potential environmental effects of the proposed project, including feasible alternatives and approaches to avoiding and minimising potentially significant effects, environmental mitigation and management measures, including for:

a. native vegetation, biodiversity and ecological values, including listed threatened species and communities, such as through the loss, degradation or fragmentation of habitat, or through other indirect causes;
b. surface water and groundwater, including downstream wetlands and groundwater dependent ecosystems;
c. Aboriginal cultural heritage;
d. air quality, particularly in relation to airborne dust emissions;
e. noise and vibration effects;
h. landscape and visual values; and
i. traffic and transport, soils and contamination, radiation and historic heritage.”

See the full list of procedures and requirements in the decision.

Gippsland Critical Minerals Pty Ltd (GCM), the company which is the proponent of the Fingerboards Project, has responded to the Minister’s decision that an EES is required. The community action group, Mine Free Glenaladale has responded to the decision and GCM’s statement. Both responses are set out in full below.

See related stories here.

Minister confirms EES for redesigned Fingerboards Project

Gippsland Critical Minerals, Media Release, 18 February 2026

Gippsland Critical Minerals’ (GCM) redesigned Fingerboards Project has achieved another major milestone, with the Victorian Minister for Planning announcing that the project will undertake an Environment Effects Statement (EES).

The Ministers decision recognises that the rescoped project is materially different from the proposal considered in 2021 and warrants new assessment.

“This is a fantastic outcome that reflects the significance of the changes we have made to the project,” said GCM’s CEO Michelle Wood.

“GCM has worked hard alongside the community and through our iterative design process to develop a project that is now ready for new assessment.

“We heard clearly from the community that prolonged uncertainty around timeframes was contributing to conflict and impacting community wellbeing. I am pleased the Minister has made a timely decision, providing certainty about next steps and a formal process for all voices to be heard,” Michelle said.

Some of the key changes made to the project since the 2021 proposal include:

• A 1.5 kilometre exclusion zone between mining and the Lindenow Valley horticultural area, designed to protect agricultural production.
• Removal of mining from Perry, Simpson and Lucas gullies, which will no longer be subject to resource extraction.
• A 40 per cent reduction in mining rate, from 1,500 tonnes per hour to 900 tonnes per hour, across two mobile locations, reducing dust and noise in any one place at any one time.
• Progressive rehabilitation, with filling of mined areas commencing within 12 months to reduce the active footprint, minimise dust and accelerate land return.
• In pit co-disposal of tailings, removing the need for elevated tailings storage facilities.
• An enclosed concentrate shed to manage dust and safely handle naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM).
• A rail first logistics strategy via the Fernbank East siding, designed to reduce heavy vehicle movements on local roads and improve freight efficiency for East Gippsland businesses.
• A new and diversified water strategy to reduce reliance on any single source and will strengthen long term regional water security through the construction of a new storage dam and associated pipelines which can become community assets at the end of the life of the mine.
• Enhanced dust management measures, including increased buffers, reduced active areas, suppressants and adaptive management, with continuous monitoring will be publicly available.

“This is exactly what we asked for. It allows people to examine the detail, ask questions and have their voices heard through a formal process,” GCM Community and Stakeholder Lead Mick Harrington said.

“I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to share their feedback with GCM, including members of the expanded Community Reference Group whose input has helped shape this new project.”

“We’re proud to see the project enter this next phase and will continue working hard to deliver the lasting benefits East Gippslanders deserve.”

During operations, the project is expected to create more than 300 ongoing jobs, alongside significant construction, employment and local procurement opportunities with more than $1 million in contracts already awarded to local companies.

Large scale testing through the Mining and Rehabilitation Demonstration Pit designed to inform the updated project design will soon commence, while detailed environmental and technical studies to provide contemporary data and robust analysis are already underway.

Early community engagement by GCM will continue throughout the EES process, including public information sessions, website updates and ongoing meetings with its expanded Community Reference Group.

To learn more about the Fingerboards Project visit gippslandcriticalminerals.com, or for more information on the EES process visit planning.vic.gov.au/environmental-assessments.

Minister’s EES decision is welcome

Mine Free Glenaladale, Media Release, 19 February 2026

Mine Free Glenaladale and the community of East Gippsland welcome the decision by the Minister for Planning, Sonya Kilkenny, that an Environment Effects Statement (EES) is required. This follows the acceptance of Gippsland Critical Minerals referral of the rescoped project.

The reasons given by the Minister for another EES include the significant environmental effects the proposed mine would have, the duration of the project (in excess of 22 years) and the nature of the existing environment. The decision also recognises the impacts on native vegetation and biodiversity values, threatened flora and fauna species and communities, surface and ground water including downstream wetlands and ground water dependent ecosystems, Aboriginal cultural heritage, air quality, noise and vibration, agriculture and horticulture, socioeconomic values and landscape and visual.

The Minister also mentioned the uncertainty about the extent and magnitude of other potential effects relating to traffic and transport, soils and contamination, radiation and historic heritage.

Investigations will also be required to understand and assess how adverse environmental effects can be mitigated or minimised by different design scenarios and whether this is possible.

The original Kalbar project was rejected by the Independent Advisory Committee and the former Planning Minister in 2021 following an extensive EES process and panel hearing, with 49 serious impacts being identified if this mine should ever proceed.

An EES for the rescoped project will require Gippsland Critical Minerals to provide scientifically based evidence and data to justify the changes they have made to the project.

• How a 1.5 kilometre buffer will stop dust contaminating the multi-million dollar agricultural and horticultural industries in the Lindenow Valley.
• Extending the mine life from 15 to 22 years to lessen the impacts of dust and noise on the community.
• Providing regional water security through the construction of a 2 gigalitre dam as there may well be contamination and legal issues.
• Proving the viability of construction of a rail siding at Fernbank to improve freight efficiency in East Gippsland.
• The feasibility of progressive rehabilitation and of filling the mine void within a 12 month period.
• Addressing contamination issues on ground water and river systems with in-pit tailings disposal.
• The protection of three major gullies despite the watershed of these gullies being mined.

Mine Free Glenaladale spokesperson Ms Robyn Grant said “Engagement in the EES process takes many hours of research and requires expert witnesses to respond to the vast volumes of information in documents submitted by the proponent. Opposition to the Kalbar proposal was overwhelming with community members submitting over 900 detailed responses against the mine proposal. In the panel hearing the East Gippsland Shire paid for legal representation.”

She added “The community is pleased that the Planning Minister has insisted on another EES but is still concerned that it will not fully address the impacts and threats of this proposed mineral sands mine in this sensitive and inappropriate location. The site of the mine is still the same, the river hasn’t moved, the vegetable and agricultural industries are still in close proximity and the rural population in the area has not changed.”

“GCM have mentioned the use of adaptive management for dust management measures, this is a red rag to the community as it means that action will only occur after the event.”

“It will be interesting to see how the proponent will address all of the threats and impacts of the project proposal in the EES documents.”

See related stories here.