Renewed mineral sands mine bid 'a turd in glitter', resident says

Key points

• A leading planning expert says the Victorian government is manipulating its planning system to fast-track the Fingerboards mineral sands project in eastern Victoria. The government rejected the project in 2021 over environmental and horticultural risks.
• It is now considering a modified bid, which the company, Gippsland Critical Minerals, says includes significant changes. The company says it has cut the mine footprint by 27 per cent and the mining rate by 40 per cent.
• The government says no decision has been made and the project is still being assessed.