Landholder Engagement
WMR is committed to ongoing dialogue with landholders directly and indirectly impacted by any of its projects and seeks to establish voluntary agreements with landholders and ensuring that landholders are fairly compensated, where applicable.
We encourage landholders to refer to the Land Use Guide prepared by the Minerals Council of Australia Victorian Division and the Victorian Farmers Federation which explains how WMR will conduct business in compliance with Victoria’s Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990.
Landholder Information
Mineral resources belong to the state of Victoria (the Crown) whether they are on private, commercial or government land. Ownership of the minerals changes hands if or when we grant a mining licence to a mining company.
Both minerals explorers and mining companies are required by law to contact relevant landholders to discuss the impact of possible minerals exploration or mining.
Minerals Explorer Role
In Victoria, minerals explorers need a licence before they can start any exploration. This would usually be a minerals exploration licence or retention licence. A retention licence lets the licensee (licence holder) conduct more exploration to find out if a mineral resource could lead to mining for profit.
These licences relate to a defined piece of land, which may include privately owned and/or Crown (i.e. government owned) land.
Licences are issued and managed by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions.
At a minimum, new licence applications need to be advertised in a newspaper issued in the locality of the proposed exploration licence.
They also need to be advertised in the Wednesday edition of a newspaper issued generally throughout Victoria. Prospecting or fossicking licence applications only need to be advertised in the local paper. Notice may also be given online, via letterbox drops or at community events.
The applicant needs to give the public notice/s within 14 days of their application receiving highest ranking. Public notice/s gives landholders the chance to raise concerns or lodge objections before the government decides on the application.
Note: if your property falls within the area of an application, it does not mean that the minerals explorer will need entry to your land.
A full minerals exploration program generally takes at least five years; and in most cases doesn't find a sizeable mineral deposit.
If a significant deposit is found, a licence holder may apply for a mining licence, which is required to build a mine and remove mineral resources.
Source: https://resources.vic.gov.au/