FALCON Metals is offering Mysia landowners an estimated $1500 compensation for exploratory mineral sands drilling.
The 1700-hectare proposed drilling site covers part of the water catchment for Woolshed Swamp and the Western Waranga Channel.
Local farmer Matt Chalmers said landowners needed information and detail “beyond what Falcon has been announcing to the ASX”.
“Originally we were told they were looking for gold but over the last year or so that has become mineral sands,” he said. “We’ve told Falcon we want to learn what this exploration really entails to gain an understanding of impacts on our farming operations.”
Matt said contact from Falcon to discuss land access had come at inconvenient times.
“The first letter in December was in the middle of harvest, a second in April was when we were sowing,” said the fifth generation Mysia farmer.
Falcon has offered landowners a $500 one-off sign-on fee for land access, $25 for each aircore hole completed on their property and $25 each time the company is on the land. An estimated 150 drill holes have been proposed.
The company has failed to gain the signatures of Mysia landowners on land access agreements and brought in Victoria’s mining warden to mediate.
“In late April, Falcon Metals made a submission to the Office of the Mining Warden, who has specialist expertise in land access matters. The submission was made with a view to facilitating a discussion with landowners,” said managing director Tim Markwell.  
“Falcon Metals is waiting on further communication from the Mining Warden. As the matter is currently in mediation, Falcon Metals does not intend to make further comments at this time.  “Falcon does not currently have access agreements at the Farrelly prospect. 
“However, Falcon Metals has approximately 67 land access agreements in place across Victoria.”
Office of the Mining Warden did not respond to questions on when mediation would start but has attempted to contact Mysia landowners over the past fortnight.
Falcon has told farmers that if they refused to negotiate a settlement on compensation, they could be referred to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Matt Chalmers said: “We are all concerned about what that means to our community. If it went to VCAT, that would only be on compensation, not land access. If there was to be mineral sands mining, we may well see 30-metre deep holes on prime and irrigated farmland,” he said.
Matt and father Jim say they will meet Falcon “but only to ask questions ... they want to use our land and we’re not sure about that.”