Date Time Mineral sands mining licensing process begins Kalbar Operations Ltd Pty has applied for a mining licence in relation to the proposed Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project in Gippsland. A decision on the mining licence will not be made until the Environmental Effects Statement (EES) process has concluded and the Minister for Planning has issued an assessment of the environmental impacts of the project. The mining licence application process provides an opportunity for public submissions to be made to inform Earth Resources Regulations ‘s decision to grant or refuse a licence. The mining licence application process is not related to the EES process and previous opportunities for the public to make submission on the proposed project and its environmental impacts.