- Published:
- Thursday, 26 June 2025
Victoria is leading the way in the renewable energy transition and boosting regional economies by ensuring locally sourced critical minerals are being supplied to renewable energy projects thanks to the Allan Labor Government
Resources Victoria has approved Astron Corporation’s Donald Mineral Sands Project, allowing construction work to start at the one of the state’s most significant sites.
The work plan approval will enable the mining of 7.5 million tonnes of mineral sands per year for 19 years. Operations will target ilmenite, monazite, rare earth elements, rutile and zircon, vital materials that support manufacturing of a range of products including batteries and magnets in wind turbines.
The approved work plan addresses recommendations from the Environmental Effects Statement process to protect the environment and community from operations at the site.
The company is required to progressively rehabilitate the mine, ensuring the land is restored and returned to a productive state.
For the life of the project, a condition has been included to ensure the company monitors air quality at the site and publish real-time dust level data on its website, in a format that can be easily accessible and understood by the local community.
Launched as part of the Economic Growth Statement, the Critical Minerals Roadmap is helping drive development of the state’s mineral resources while ensuring the community is engaged throughout the life of the projects by companies awarded the rights to extract state-owned minerals.
Victoria has many of the minerals used to make alloys that can withstand extreme conditions to generate and store renewable energy. Developing these is crucial to energy transition as it helps provide the materials needed for solar panels, wind turbines and batteries and opening up new supply chain opportunities for Victoria.
There is unprecedented demand for the minerals needed for clean technologies and the sector has the potential to generate billions of dollars into regional Victorian economies.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio
" We're kick starting Victoria’s critical minerals boom with the approval of the first works plan for one of the state’s most significant mine sites in decades, providing the essential minerals we need for our renewable energy transition.”
“All mining processes in Victoria are heavily regulated and the safety of the community, environment and infrastructure is built into key approvals such as the work plan for the Donald Mineral Sands Project.”