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NEWS, ARTICLES & MEDIA

2026

16 October 2026 | Representatives Standing Committee on Primary Industries in Canberra

Dr Dora Pearce, speaking before the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Primary Industries in Canberra, giving evidence to its inquiry into social licence and economic development outcomes in critical minerals projects.In her words: “I heard about the Inquiry and decided to make a submission to express my concerns about fast-tracking mining approvals because of the race to extract critical minerals. Communities in Victoria’s food producing areas are fighting to protect their properties and livelihoods from mineral sands mining, and a NSW agricultural community has mounted a class action against a gold mine after discovering contamination of their rain water tanks, ground water and river.”Dora’s submission (No. 13) focused on “any other related matters that may assist the Committee.” https://www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/Watch_Read_Listen/ParlView/video/5021706
Submissions – Parliament of Australia

17 March 2026 | Victory Minerals Press Release

The Tailings Dam Community Safety Action Group Inc. is pleased to share, with permission (24 March 2026), the attached Media Release from Victory Minerals, detailing the greatly enhanced Visual Amenity Screen currently under construction along Whitehorse Road on the TSF4 site. Commuters between Mount Clear and Sebastopol may be concerned about the logging of pine trees, but these will be replaced with an earthen mound covered with around 30,000 native plants, including Eucalyptus, Acacia, Melaleuca and Banksia varieties, some to a height of 30 metres. This revised vegetation plan was based on an arborist assessment that the pine trees were unsafe and is endorsed by Ballarat City Council.
Victory Minerals Press Release - PDF - 17 March 2026

2025

04 December 2025 | The Courier
Mine owner says source of river chemical spill has 'not been determined'
https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/9126266/epa-releases-test-results-from-ballarat-gold-mine-spill/03 December 2025 | ABC
Environment Protection Authority to monitor Ballarat Gold Mine amid air pollution concerns
Environment Protection Authority to monitor Ballarat Gold Mine amid air pollution concerns - ABC News 02 December 2025 | The Courier
'Toxic?': community group wants answers to Ballarat Gold Mine river spill
https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/9122541/ballarat-mines-potentially-toxic-spill-concerns-local-community/15 May 2025 (updated) | EPA
Contaminated land from historical mining waste
Learn about the risks of historical mining waste, including arsenic.
https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/contaminated-land-historical-mining-waste20 November 2025 | The Courier
EPA investigating Ballarat Gold Mine after discharge into Yarrowee River
https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/9116163/ballarat-gold-mine-spill-into-yarrowee-sparks-epa-investigation/28 February | Resources Review
Ballarat Gold Mine fined for blasting breach
https://resourcesreview.com.au/news_article/ballarat-gold-mine-fined-for-blasting-breach/27 February | Resources Victoria
Regulator takes action on Ballarat Gold Mine blasting
https://resources.vic.gov.au/about-us/news/regulator-takes-action-on-ballarat-gold-mine-blasting

2024

20 July 2024 | The Courier
Decision made for new tailings dam at Ballarat Gold Mine
https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/8702014/vcat-decision-about-ballarat-gold-mine-new-tailings-dam20 July 2024 | ABC Ballarat
Ballarat Gold Mine given green light...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-20/ballarat-gold-mine-tailings-dam-approval-granted-vcat/10411948424 April 2024 | news.com.au
Ballarat gold mine operator admits company failed to lodge $4m rehabilitation bond with government
Ballarat gold mine operator admits company failed to lodge $4 million rehabilitation bond with government | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site

12 March 2024 | The Courier
Residents fear deadly exposure as 'toxic waste site' to be built
https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/8551880/concerns-over-ballarat-gold-mines-toxic-tailings-dam/

2023

29 November 2023 | ABC Ballarat
Ballarat Gold Mine creditors reportedly vote to sell...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2023-11-29/ballarat-gold-mine-creditors-meeting-hall-chadwick-sale/103159134

22 August 2023 | The Guardian
New tailings dam at Ballarat goldmine...
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/23/new-tailings-dam-at-ballarat-goldmine-will-not-increase-risk-to-residents-operators-say

17 August 2023 | Sarah Mansfield - Greens MLC
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS STATEMENT “ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL” ...
https://sarahmansfield.org.au/government-used-unreliable-research-for-murray-darling-policy/

5 August 2023 | The Guardian
Dam dust: Ballarat residents challenge proposed gold mine...
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/05/dam-dust-ballarat-residents-challenge-proposed-gold-mine-expansion

3 August 2023 | 3BA
Ballarat group appeals council’s tailings dam decision
https://www.3ba.com.au/local-news/ballarat-group-appeals-councils-tailings-dam-decision/

6 July 2023 | Ballarat Times
Confusion remains over tailings dam – City of Ballarat council...
https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/ballarat/news/confusion-remains-over-tailings-dam-city-of-ballarat-council-meeting-briefs/

2 July 2023 | The Courier
'Damming' contradictions made at Ballarat council meeting
https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/8253533/dammed-if-they-do-wrong-decision-on-both-counts/

29 June 2023 | ABC Ballarat
Ballarat council approves 43-hectare gold mine waste storage...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-29/ballarat-council-decision-gold-mine-tailings-storage-facility/102531288

29 June 2023 | 3BA
Ballarat council votes in favour of gold mine tailings dam
https://www.3ba.com.au/local-news/ballarat-council-votes-in-favour-of-gold-mine-tailings-dam/

29 June 2023 | The Courier
Ballarat residents divided between jobs and health...
https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/8249779/both-sides-out-in-force-over-gold-mine-dam/

28 June 2023 | Ballarat City Council
Council Meeting - 28 June 2023
https://webcast.ballarat.vic.gov.au/archive/video23-0628.php

26 June 2023 | The Courier
Council set to vote on controversial Ballarat Gold Mine...
https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/8246001/council-set-to-vote-on-controversial-ballarat-gold-mine-tailings-dam

21 June 2023 | ABC Ballarat
Residents fight to halt Ballarat Gold Mine's tailings storage...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-21/ballarat-gold-mine-tailings-storage-facility-planning-concerns/102496732

20 June 2023 | The Courier
Ballarat Gold Mine tailings dam community opposition continues...
https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/8240128/final-push-to-stop-mine-expansion-plan

9 June 2023 | Ballarat Times
Report in on tailings dam
https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/ballarat/news/report-in-on-tailings-dam/

30 May 2023 | 3BA
3BA radio interview with Dr Dora Pearce
https://www.mixcloud.com/TDCSAG/3ba-interview-with-dr-dora-pearce/

28 May 2023 | The Courier
Ballarat Gold Mine tailings dam TSF4 community consultation...
https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/8210388/mine-expansion-concerns-are-being-taken-seriously/

10 March 2023 | ABC Ballarat
Ballarat mine Balmaine Gold goes into administration...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-10/balmaine-gold-mine-enters-administration-in-ballarat/102078588

9 March 2023 | Financial Review
Administrators called into Ballarat gold mine
https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/administrators-called-into-ballarat-gold-mine-20230309-p5cqs0

26 February 2023 | The Courier
Ballarat Gold Mine commits to developing Health Impact Assessment
https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/8098633/major-step-forward-ballarat-gold-mine-to-address-tailings-dam-concerns/

3 February 2023 | Financial Review
Ballarat mine pays heavy price for tailings dam dithering
https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/ballarat-mine-pays-heavy-price-for-tailings-dam-dithering-20230203-p5choz

16 January 2023 | Power FM
New community group formed to raise awareness
https://www.powerfmballarat.com.au/local-news/new-community-group-formed-to-raise-awareness-of-ballarat-gold-mine-dam-proposal/

2022

30 December 2022 | The Courier
Ballarat's Dr Dora Pearce launches Community Group
https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/8033626/ballarat-academic-launches-action-group-in-response-to-proposed-mine-waste-site/

19 December 2022 | The Courier
Fears over Ballarat Gold Mine tailings dam proposal
https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/8023714/it-worries-us-all-fears-over-proposed-mine-waste-disposal/

19 November 2022 | Ballarat Times
Neighbour says no to mining waste dam
https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/ballarat/news/neighbour-says-no-to-mining-waste-dam/

27 October 2022 | The Courier
Can the Ballarat Gold mine keep expanding...
https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/7957893/mine-plans-spark-opposition/

3 October 2022 | Financial Review
Ballarat gold mine grinds to a halt as tailings dam fills
https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/ballarat-gold-mine-grinds-to-a-halt-as-tailings-dam-fills-20221002-p5bmld

3 October 2022 | The Courier
Ballarat Gold Mine slows output for safety as tailings dam fills
https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/7927692/gold-mine-halts-work-as-tailings-dam-fills/

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