COMMUNITIES across the Wimmera, north and east of Hamilton and around Mortlake will be able to have their say on minerals exploration licence applications in their local area in the coming weeks.

About 11,000 square kilometres of ground was made available for minerals exploration licence applications on May 2.

The area is within a geological zone known as the Stavely Arc, which has potential for discoveries of copper, other base metals, gold, mineral sands and gypsum.

Earth Resources Regulation has now received applications to explore in the area and is conducting an initial assessment of submissions.

After this review, mineral explorers will have 14 days to advertise their licence application.

Explorers must publicise the comment period for their applications, with advertisements to appear in local newspapers.

Community members will have 21 days from the appearance of the last advertisement to submit a comment.

Following the public submission period, Earth Resources Regulation will assess each application taking into consideration relevant community comments.

These include whether the applicant is fit and proper to hold a licence, have a suitable proposal and can fund activities.

Earth Resources said in a statement the minerals sector invested $130 million to the local economy within the Stavely Arc in 2020 and paid almost $70 million in wages to almost 450 workers.

The statement said minerals exploration is a very different activity to mining, and explorers use low-impact methods to understand local geology and look for evidence of minerals over a large area, then typically focus activities on a smaller zone.

Not every mineral exploration licence will proceed to a mining project.

If a commercially viable deposit is identified through an exploration licence, a separate and rigorous assessment process begins.

In Victoria, before an explorer can access privately-owned land and commence exploration, the explorer requires the consent of the landholder.

Glenthompson resident, Helenmary Macleod, has been vocal against minerals exploration in the area and said landholders should be vigilant and check new applications in their newspapers and on the Earth Resources website regularly.

“(This applies) especially if any threatened habitat or species are involved in a licence area,” she said.

“Earth Resources has been seen to place no significance on environmental impacts of exploration.

“It is imperative that objections are placed. Diamond drilling exploration is not low impact.

“Landholders also need to be aware of their rights in the granting of access agreements to exploration companies of which they are not obliged to give.”

Ms Macleod was adamant landholders have the right to say no and said the Victorian Farmers Federation website had useful information and guidelines on access agreements.

The link for this is https://bit.ly/3O580fc

Additional information about the licensing process and where ground is available can be found at earthresources.vic.gov.au/stavely

Applications that are open for public comment are listed at earthresources.vic.gov.au/have-your-say