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Traditional landowners will help facilitate gold exploration in Victoria to ensure it is done in an ethical and sustainable manner, a traditional landowner said.
The state government on Tuesday announced more land in central Victoria would be open for gold exploration.
Engagement with traditional owners will be part of the evaluation process and selection criteria for prospective companies.
"The prospect of further exploration and more mining activity on our country generally creates anxiety among Dja Dja Wurrung people," Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Rodney Carter said.
"We can't stop this type of activity on country so I think it's incumbent upon us to make sure that it's the best it can be.
"If anyone is doing work on our country, we want them to be the most reputable and the best."
A portion of land to the east of Bendigo will fall under the North Central Victorian Goldfields Ground Release. Part of that land is Dja Dja Wurrung country.
Mr Carter said mining had previously destroyed the Dja Dja Wurrung's redgum and box ironbark woodland landscape.
"Mining was a key factor in our dispossession," Mr Carter said.
"Victoria's economy, its imposing architecture, and its strong governance were built on wealth from our land while our economy was destroyed, our people were made poor, and our voice was drowned out.
"We are working to turn around the negative consequences of past mining activities. We are taking steps to restore the country to health.
"This potentially provides us an opportunity to improve standards."
Mr Carter said the state government was obligated to facilitate the involvement of traditional land owners.
"We created some principles on how traditional owners would assess someone that expresses interest," he said. "It is really significant that we are given the opportunity to raise the bar on these standards."
Mr Carter said the priorities of the Dja Dja Wurrung were to protect their cultural heritage on the landscape, remediate past damage to their country, secure material outcomes that will lift Indigenous people out of poor health and poverty, and ensure future mining activity minimises the negative effects on their country.
"We recognise that miners have come a long way from the crude culture and practices it brought to our land over a century ago," Mr Carter said.
"The mining industry has adopted new technologies, the investors understand the value of social licence, and miners are prepared to consider a more sophisticated relationship with traditional owners and stakeholders."
Earlier
The Victorian Government has opened more land in central Victoria for gold exploration.
The North Central Victorian Goldfields Ground Release will be open to international tender, following the success of Kirkland Lake Gold's Fosterville Mine.
Engagement with traditional owners will be part of the evaluation process and selection criteria for prospective companies.
"Gold helped build Victoria's wealth and the industry remains integral to creating regional jobs," Minister for Resources Jaclyn Symes said.
"The North Central ground release will be a huge boost for this sector - attracting companies who are determined to work closely with regional communities and the traditional owners of the land they will explore."
Ms Symes was expected to make the announcement at a mining conference in Melbourne on Tuesday, but a large number of protesters have blocked entrances to the convention centre.
The Geological Survey of Victoria estimates only half of the gold that may exist in Victoria has been found in the past 169 years.
"The mining industry and its investors now understand the value of social licence," Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Rodney Carter said.
"We support the government's commitment to deliver industry best practice for the benefit of all Victorians."
Victoria is Australia's largest exporter of mining equipment, technology and services.
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Tara Cosoleto
Journalist covering courts and general news at the Bendigo Advertiser.
Journalist covering courts and general news at the Bendigo Advertiser.
