Safeguarding the Mitchell River floodplain

The future of agricultural land in Gippsland is being safeguarded with new protections for the Mitchell River floodplain near Bairnsdale.

The future security of prime agricultural land in Gippsland is being safeguarded with new protections from mining and minerals exploration being introduced for the Mitchell River floodplain near Bairnsdale.

The exempted area, stretching from Glenaladale to Hillside, is highly valued for its horticultural produce, with farm gate production estimated to be worth over $100 million per year and providing up to 2000 ongoing and seasonal jobs.

The Mitchell River floodplain is a prime irrigated horticultural area producing a wide variety of fresh vegetables including lettuce, cabbage, peas, capsicum and sweet corn, all of which are enjoyed across Australia.

Geological studies show low potential for minerals development in the floodplain area, which makes mining in the area less likely to be commercially viable compared to the highly-productive farming businesses in the area.

The decision to exempt this area from minerals exploration and mining licencing provides certainty to the highly productive Mitchell River floodplain horticultural business and the many people working in the industry across Gippsland.

The potential for mining elsewhere in the Glenaladale area is currently under investigation, via an Environment Effects Statement (EES), for the proposed Fingerboards mineral sands project.

More information about the assessment of the Fingerboards mineral sands project is available at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning website. The project proponent, Kalbar Resources, supports the exemption for the floodplain.

Contact: Lewis Hill

Phone: (03) 8392 6735