We Commit To:

  • Building respectful, inclusive relationships with local communities, Traditional Owners, and government partners
  • Communicating openly, honestly, and early
  • Valuing local insight and acting on community input
  • Delivering tangible social and economic benefits
  • Acting with integrity, transparency, and accountability at every step

The Minerals Council of Australia’s 2023 Economic Contribution Survey reveals the growing value of mining across Victoria—and the positive impact it’s having on local communities.

Since the last report in 2021, direct spend by Victorian mines has surged to $570 million. This includes wages, local business procurement, tax payments, and community contributions.

Key Highlights:

  • $181 million in wages for nearly 1,500 local workers (average salary: $122,000)
  • $347 million spent with ~1,700 local Victorian businesses (77% of all goods and services sourced locally)
  • $39 million in state payments, $200 million+ in national taxes
  • $330 million of total spend in regional Victoria
  • $214 million injected into Central Victoria/Loddon Murray—the highest in the state

All of this from an industry that uses less than 0.2% of Victoria’s land.

View the Full Survey

We’ve formalised our partnership with Gannawarra and Swan Hill Shire Councils through a Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement focuses on:

  • Job creation and workforce development
  • Local infrastructure collaboration
  • Economic opportunities and funding advocacy
  • Shared environmental and social outcomes

It’s a mutual commitment to shaping a better future—for councils, communities, and VHM alike.

We believe the benefits of mining must reach beyond the mine. That’s why we’re developing a targeted Social Investment Strategy focused on:

  • Strengthening local economies
  • Supporting quality of life
  • Helping regional towns thrive
  • We’re listening, learning, and building this strategy in partnership with community voices.

Above: The VHM team Minerals Council of Australia’s Victorian Division Executive Director, James Sorahan, ready to talk to students at the 2023 MMLLEN Agriculture/Horticulture Careers Expo held in Swan Hill, 2023.

Community spirit drives progress—and we’re proud to support the organisations that bring people together.

Looking to engage in sponsorship?

Contact email: [email protected]

We’re committed to genuine, ongoing engagement with landholders near the Goschen Project—recognising their proximity and lived experience.

We follow the Minerals Council of Australia / Victorian Farmers Federation Land Use Guide and operate in full compliance with the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990.

Neighbour Agreements

Our detailed studies help us reduce dust, light, noise, and traffic impacts—but we know proximity still matters. That’s why we’ve introduced Victoria’s first Neighbour Agreement for mining—a voluntary recognition payment for residents living within 3.5km of the Goschen site.

The closer the property, the greater the recognition:
0–1 km: Highest tier
1–2 km: Mid-tier
2–3.5 km: Lower tier

It’s our way of showing respect and building trust from the ground up.

LM2057 - Neighbour Agreement

We live here, work here, and care deeply about this place. If you see any of our team on-site or in town—don’t hesitate to say hello.

Brian Hansen, Bernie Hyde and XX

Pictured: Brian Hansen, Bernie Hyde and Kurtis Noyce.