Expansion of Fosterville Gold Mine operations given the green light

The Victorian Government has greenlighted the expansion of the State’s largest gold mine – the Fosterville Gold Mine. 

Signing off the Environmental Effects Statement (EES) marks a major milestone in the approval process for the expansion of mining operations that will not only deliver more local jobs but will also inject more than a billion dollars into Bendigo’s economy. 

The Fosterville Gold Mine currently employs over 800 people, and its expansion is expected to increase workforce numbers to 1,000 as well as increase gross regional product to $1.3 billion over the next 10 years. 

“The Central Gold Fields has more than two centuries of gold mining heritage and this project seeks to continue the sector’s long-history of employment and economic benefits for regional Victoria,” Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio said. 

“Mining is woven into the fabric of Bendigo’s history – and this expansion will continue that legacy, supporting more than a thousand jobs and injecting more than $1 billion into our economy,” Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan said. 

The mine is located about 20 kilometres east of Bendigo and it is one of the highest-grade gold mining operations in the world. It is also the largest gold producer in Victoria, with more than 4.4 million ounces of gold extracted since the beginning of its operations. 

Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny’s assessment of the project found that potential impacts can be acceptably managed, provided that strengthened environmental management practices and amended mitigation measures are adopted. 

Key outcomes and recommendations from the EES include a new surface water monitoring system to help minimise impacts on ground water and local waterways alongside enhanced noise, vibration and air quality monitoring. 

The Fosterville Gold Mine expansion will now go through mining and EPA approvals as well as Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 approval from the Australian Government. 

The next stage of development will include the assessment of a Work Plan to ensure all EES recommendations are met in the mining operations and to ensure the operator – Fosterville Gold Mine Pty Ltd – can be held accountable. 

“We’re making sure safeguards are in place to protect the environment, while also creating more jobs and boosting Bendigo’s economy,” Minister Kilkenny said. 

The Fosterville Gold Mine expansion project will include: 

• An extension of current underground mining operations in MIN5404 to the south, north and west 

• Cutbacks (extension) to existing open pits 

• Construction and operation of new tailings storage facilities within existing tailings compound or within existing open pits 

• Construction and operation of a new brine evaporation pond 

• Construction of a new waste rock dump 

• Transfer/sale of carbon in leach (CIL) tailings 

• Management of waste paste and a managed aquifer recharge (MAR) program to inject treated mine water to the fracture rock aquifer 

Source: Premier of Victoria – Media Centre; ABC News; Victoria State Government – Department of Transport and Planning