GCM releases new mining area map – smaller mining area and reduced impact on environment and local roads

Gippsland Critical Minerals (GCM) today released details of the proposed mining area as part of its rescoping of the Fingerboards Critical Minerals Project, highlighting a 27% (346 hectare) reduction in the mining and separation plant area compared to the 2021 project.

Details of the smaller mining area are contained in a new map for the rescoped project released at a meeting of GCM’s Community Reference Group in Bairnsdale today.

The map shows a significant reduction in the mining area to the north, which increases the distance between the mining area and the Mitchell River and the Lindenow horticultural area. The three major gullies (Simpson, Lucas Creek, and Perry) will also be excluded from any mining, with conservation areas established to further protect and preserve these areas.

The new GCM map also details an area to the south of the 2021 project, which has been added to the mining area, covering the proposed location of the new separation plant. This new plant location will allow bulk mineral product to be transported on private roads to a new proposed rail siding in Fernbank, without the need to cross or access public roads. Other outcomes from the new mining area include:

• Avoiding at least 80% of the previously identified endangered and vulnerable ecological vegetation classes (EVC) that would have been directly impacted by the 2021 mine and plant area.

  
  

• A planned 80% (6.1km) reduction in public road impacts when compared to the 2021 project. In 2021, 7.6 km of the Bairnsdale–Dargo Road and Fernbank-Glenaladale Road were proposed for mining, including the Fingerboards intersection. In the new proposal, only 1.5km of the Bairnsdale–Dargo Road will be relocated to allow for mining, and the Fingerboards Intersection will be entirely maintained. The 6.1km of roads also contain a significant number of mature trees that will now be retained.

  
  

• A maximum of 15% of the new mining area will be an open void at any one time. Across two locations, ‘strips’ of approximately 900m by 300m will be mined, then refilled progressively with rehabilitation to commence immediately. Each ‘open void’ will be completely refilled within a maximum of 12 months to commence rehabilitation.

Final landform designs, also provided to the CRG today, show that GCM intends to restore the land to its original topography and state at the conclusion of mining activities.

GCM CEO Michelle Wood said: “The definition of the new mining area is a further significant step in rescoping the Fingerboards Project as we work to address all the recommendations made by the IAC and Minister in the 2021 EES process.

“The smaller mining area results in a large reduction in local road impacts and protects significant areas of local ecology. The next step is the development of a detailed mining schedule for the 22-year life of the project.“In addition to the 12 major changes we announced in March, which reduce noise, dust, local traffic impacts and protect important areas of the local environment, the smaller mining area and rate responds to community feedback and helps develop a better project for East Gippsland.

“Our aim is to develop a project that minimises every possible impact at the design stage, addresses concerns raised about the old 2021 project, and goes above and beyond ‘mitigation’ to protection, preservation and rehabilitation of the site.”

Other impact reductions highlighted on the new Fingerboards Project map include:

• 34 hectares of EVCs and 140 scattered trees protected within the previously announced 1.5km buffer zone to the Lindenow Valley horticultural area, in addition to the preservation of many large trees at the Fingerboards Junction and along the 6.1 km of roadways, and vegetation within the Perry, Simpson and Lucas Creek gullies.

  
  

• 22,800 hectares of land that is now protected from mining as a result of the Victorian Government’s Section 7 (exemption area) classification, which applied to the previous 8 Exploration Licenses held by Kalbar.

Link to new GCM Mining Area Map - Fingerboards Critical Minerals Project Staging | Fingerboards Critical Minerals Project | Gippsland Critical Minerals

In other updates provided to the CRG, GCM’s proposed demonstration mining pit and rehabilitation trials are scheduled to commence in January 2026. The demonstration pit will enable GCM to test its proposed approach to noise and dust management, surface water and runoff, cultural heritage, geotechnical, soil reinstatement, and rehabilitation, supported by detailed trials and data collection. The outcomes from the demonstration pit will be shared with the community.

Together with its Lead Environmental Consultant, AECOM, GCM has also commenced work on a range of environmental and technical studies and is on track to resubmit its project referral to the Regulator by the end of 2025. Baseline monitoring has now commenced across the new site and nearby areas to provide a better understanding of background conditions in the proposed project area and its surroundings.

Baseline monitoring covers a range of matters, including weather, air quality and dust, including rainwater tank monitoring; surface water flow and quality; groundwater levels and quality; noise and radiation.

The baseline monitoring and the demonstration mining pit and rehabilitation trials will inform environmental and technical studies which will also cover the areas of ecology, flora and fauna, cultural heritage, visual and landscape, land use and planning, traffic and transport, economic development, social impact, human health, agriculture and horticulture, geotechnical, soils and rehabilitation.