Message from GCM’s CEO

Michelle Wood, CEO

Critical minerals are very much on the national and international agenda, and it was exciting to see progress in April in unlocking Victoria’s critical minerals potential with the approval of VHM’s Goschen Mineral Sands Project near Swan Hill.

Victoria is now on the move and on the global map with the strategic importance of its critical minerals’ projects receiving growing recognition from governments, and international investors and markets.

The Fingerboards resource, which is rich in Dysprosium and Terbium - or heavy rare earths - is more significant than ever following China’s recent decision to restrict the supply of these minerals. China’s actions highlight the importance of securing Australia’s supply of critical minerals and validates GCM’s decision to prioritise onshore processing.

Onshore processing is one of 12 significant changes to the Fingerboards Project that we have been discussing with the community to help develop the best critical minerals project for East Gippsland.

In March, we held the first meeting of our Community Reference Group to share those initial changes. We also held our first webinars, and we spoke to people at the

East Gippsland Field Days.

These conversations tell us that the community wants to get involved and play a constructive role in shaping the project. This includes how we address key issues such as rehabilitation, water use, protecting local agriculture, creating jobs and economic benefits, managing dust, noise, and traffic impacts, and protecting environmental and cultural heritage.

We are looking forward to sharing the next round of project change details in the coming months, including at our roadshow through Bairnsdale, Lindenow, Sale and Stratford in June and July.

I am proud of the progress we have made - but there is plenty more to do to test and validate these changes through monitoring work, technical and environmental

studies.

Michelle Wood

CEO