Flynn and Flynn’s Creek Districts

This section of the website provides information that is particularly relevant to landowners and occupiers in the area of the Exploration Licence and Mining Licence.

In mid-2007, Monash Energy produced a newsletter for local landowners and occupiers, which can be downloaded from here (547kb) or obtained by contacting Monash Energy.

Background

On July 19th, 2005 Monash Energy lodged two Mining Licence Applications with the Victorian Government, over part of the land covered by the current Exploration Licence.  These applications were advertised in the local and State newspapers, and copies of the advertisements appear can be downloaded from the link at left.

Please note that the boundaries of “MIN5463”, covering an area principally along Flynn’s Creek, fall entirely within the area of the larger “MIN5462”. The small application is still pending. It is a much smaller application (235Ha), and the boundaries were drawn principally to cover areas of Crown Land and waters, which may be subject to Native Title. This provided a mechanism to follow the requirements of Native Title legislation without interfering with the grant of MLA5462.  As the waters of Flynns Creek have been claimed by the relevant Native Title Claimants, Mining Licence Application 5463 covers the entire area of the creek.

At left there is also a link to a map based on satellite imagery, which shows both the Exploration Licence and the Mining Licence Application area. This is a large file and colour copies can also be obtained by contacting the Monash Energy office.

On Thursday, 21 September, the Minister for Energy and Resources approved one of the two Mining Licence Applications, MLA 5462, and granted Monash Energy a Mining Licence (“ML”) with a duration of 50 years. The boundaries of the ML were in accordance with our Mining Licence Application, as shown on the satellite map.

For Monash Energy gaining a mining licence over the coal resource is an important step in the development of the Monash Energy coal-to-liquids project.

Security over the coal resource gives confidence to proceed with the investment program, including the local application of clean coal technologies.

It was important to note that the mining licence application did not signal a change in the Project’s development plans or timetables as previously outlined to the Government and the public. Monash Energy’s current plans and timetables see the coal-to-liquids facility becoming fully operational by the middle of the next decade.”

This is in recognition not only of the potential impacts of mines and processing facilities, but of the anxiety and uncertainty that can accompany such a major development. While there is a natural desire for certainty, it is a reality that none of the plans to be outlined by Monash Energy can be considered final until all the required government approvals have been obtained and financial backing is assured.

To help manage that uncertainty Monash Energy will seek to be open and transparent, to build the relationships that support communications, to listen, and to be responsive.

As well as responding to individuals, Monash Energy will work with local community organisations wherever this assists the flow of information in both directions.

Currently, Monash Energy only has a limited number of personnel available for liaison with individual landowners and occupiers, but over time, this will increase and the process for responding to issues and queries will become faster and more streamlined.

Information on the Exploration Licence and related issues such as compensation can be found here.

If you are a landowner or occupier in the area and have not already registered to receive information from Monash Energy directly, you can do so here at any time.