Latest news with #Weidemann
West Australian
26-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Farmer fury over rare earths mine approval
A state government has promised regional jobs and growth after rubber-stamping one of the world's largest rare earths mines, but farmers say their concerns and rights have been bulldozed. Mining company Astron's Donald Rare Earths and Mineral Sands Project won Victorian state government approval on Wednesday, the last regulatory hurdle for mine's first stage, which will upend more than 1100 hectares of broadacre and livestock farmland in the state's west. The majority of impacted farmers in the tiny town of Minyip, 320 kilometres northwest of Melbourne, first heard the news when they were contacted by the media after Astron's ASX announcement. "All we've seen is, frankly, fluff from the mining company and the government department has followed suit with very poor connection with the people directly affected," third-generation grain farmer Andrew Weidemann told AAP. "It's very disappointing, given that the government has always been saying the mining company was supposed to be good corporate citizen and meet with people." Mr Weidemann said farmers would be taking their fight to the steps of parliament, and to the courts over a failure to provide impacted farmers with key documentation. Farmers say Astron's plans to gradually rehabilitate land as mining progresses won't be enough to return it to pre-mining productivity, due to the soil's unique clay structures and water retaining ability in one of the driest parts of the state. "This soil type has not been mined before - they're open about that," Mr Weidemann said. "We've seen where other mines have operated, particularly up at Ouyen ... where the land has still not been repaired back to anywhere near its potential usable state for agricultural purposes." Dust contamination, including from radioactive dust, is also a major concern for neighbouring farmers. Rare earths elements and mineral sands are used in a number of high technology and defence applications, including batteries, electric cars and wind turbines. Donald Mineral Sands, which would become the fourth-largest mine of its kind in the world, is projected to produce 7000 tonnes of rare earth concentrate and 250,000 tonnes of heavy mineral concentrate each year, with a mine life of 41 years, Astron chief executive Tiger Brown said. "We've been working with the department (of energy and resources) on requirements and ensuring that our project stands up to Victoria's regulatory regime," he said. Roughly 200 jobs would be created during construction, along with another 180 to 200 full time jobs directly employed by the mine and Astron expected to inject $480 million of investment into the local economy. The Victorian government was kick-starting Victoria's "critical minerals boom", energy and resources minister Lily D'Ambrosio said. "All mining processes in Victoria are heavily regulated and the safety of the community, environment and infrastructure is built into key approvals," she said in a statement. The Donald Project's minerals will be sent straight to Astron's United States joint venture partner Energy Fuels for processing and sale in the US. "Energy Fuels plans to import the rare earth minerals from the Donald Project into the USA, where we will process them into separated oxides at our mill in Utah for domestic and other customers," Energy Fuels chief executive Mark Chalmers said in a statement.
Perth Now
26-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Farmer fury over rare earths mine approval
A state government has promised regional jobs and growth after rubber-stamping one of the world's largest rare earths mines, but farmers say their concerns and rights have been bulldozed. Mining company Astron's Donald Rare Earths and Mineral Sands Project won Victorian state government approval on Wednesday, the last regulatory hurdle for mine's first stage, which will upend more than 1100 hectares of broadacre and livestock farmland in the state's west. The majority of impacted farmers in the tiny town of Minyip, 320 kilometres northwest of Melbourne, first heard the news when they were contacted by the media after Astron's ASX announcement. "All we've seen is, frankly, fluff from the mining company and the government department has followed suit with very poor connection with the people directly affected," third-generation grain farmer Andrew Weidemann told AAP. "It's very disappointing, given that the government has always been saying the mining company was supposed to be good corporate citizen and meet with people." Mr Weidemann said farmers would be taking their fight to the steps of parliament, and to the courts over a failure to provide impacted farmers with key documentation. Farmers say Astron's plans to gradually rehabilitate land as mining progresses won't be enough to return it to pre-mining productivity, due to the soil's unique clay structures and water retaining ability in one of the driest parts of the state. "This soil type has not been mined before - they're open about that," Mr Weidemann said. "We've seen where other mines have operated, particularly up at Ouyen ... where the land has still not been repaired back to anywhere near its potential usable state for agricultural purposes." Dust contamination, including from radioactive dust, is also a major concern for neighbouring farmers. Rare earths elements and mineral sands are used in a number of high technology and defence applications, including batteries, electric cars and wind turbines. Donald Mineral Sands, which would become the fourth-largest mine of its kind in the world, is projected to produce 7000 tonnes of rare earth concentrate and 250,000 tonnes of heavy mineral concentrate each year, with a mine life of 41 years, Astron chief executive Tiger Brown said. "We've been working with the department (of energy and resources) on requirements and ensuring that our project stands up to Victoria's regulatory regime," he said. Roughly 200 jobs would be created during construction, along with another 180 to 200 full time jobs directly employed by the mine and Astron expected to inject $480 million of investment into the local economy. The Victorian government was kick-starting Victoria's "critical minerals boom", energy and resources minister Lily D'Ambrosio said. "All mining processes in Victoria are heavily regulated and the safety of the community, environment and infrastructure is built into key approvals," she said in a statement. The Donald Project's minerals will be sent straight to Astron's United States joint venture partner Energy Fuels for processing and sale in the US. "Energy Fuels plans to import the rare earth minerals from the Donald Project into the USA, where we will process them into separated oxides at our mill in Utah for domestic and other customers," Energy Fuels chief executive Mark Chalmers said in a statement.
CBC
06-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
Scarcity behind the medals: Canada's Olympic sports facing funding crisis
The winner of a complete set of medals and Canada's Olympic flag-bearer in Beijing's closing ceremonies is in debt. Isabelle Weidemann wasn't comfortable stating how far she's in the red. The 29-year-old from Ottawa is paying for things her national sport organization can no longer afford. "Even at this top level, three Olympic medals, got to carry the flag, the hope is you come out the other side and you're not too far from zero, that you don't have to spend years digging yourself out of this hole," Weidemann said. "To think we struggle to buy groceries, struggle to maintain equipment or purchase training necessities, all these expenses just to be able to compete with the rest of the world, there's such a discrepancy there." Speed Skating Canada's chief executive officer Joe Morissette acknowledged his organization has cut back. "Over many years, we've retreated in certain areas," he stated. "If funding is stagnant, we can only do so much." The last increase in core federal funding for Canada's 62 summer and winter national sport organizations was in 2005. Core funding is money all NSOs count on to fund operations, athletes, coaches and support staff. Freestyle Canada's chief executive officer Peter Judge called it the "blood in the veins" of his organization. It's different from Own The Podium money, which is targeted to sports demonstrating medal potential. A year out from the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, Canadian athletes are winning World Cup medals every weekend across multiple sports. Canada's nine gold medals and 27 total last year in Paris were both records for a non-boycotted Summer Olympics. But many sport leaders say those results aren't sustainable because of ballooning scarcity beneath them. "What you're seeing is the last of the blood pumped through the veins," Judge said. "We're running a $600,000 deficit this year and we probably will have to again next year. Otherwise we just start firing people. We're down to skin and bones." Reduced services for top athletes, such as fewer paid travel meals and less access to a team doctor on the road, and diminished support for the next generation were common themes. Two decades' worth of inflation since 2005 was cited as an aggravating factor. The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic committees lobbied on behalf of national sport organizations for a $104 million increase in annual core funding in the 2024 budget. The money was not forthcoming, although athletes received a 23 per cent increase in their monthly Athletes Assistance Program (AAP) checks, from $1,765 per month to about $2,170. That raise is getting eaten up by athletes paying for more training and competition costs, and for an increase in "team fees," which is what athletes pay their federations. Burden 'falls on the athletes' Bobsledders fork anywhere from $20,000 to $60,000 from their own pockets to Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, which CEO Kien Tran said was a five-fold increase over the previous year. "If I could sum it up, because of this lack of funding, sports in Canada is becoming just pay to play," Tran said. "It falls on the athletes. You may be not be getting the best athletes. You may be getting the best athletes that can afford this." Speed Skating Canada has dropped team fees marginally, but "we've also downloaded so many new costs to our participants," Morissette said. The COC and CPC are again lobbying the federal government on behalf of NSOs. The ask now is now for a $144 million annual increase in core funding in the 2025 budget. Canada Soccer reports deficit is decreasing, expects to get out of red in 2026 More Olympic sports coverage Survey data indicates 80 per cent of NSOs are skipping competitions athletes would normally attend, 70 per cent have paused, scaled back or eliminated programming, 90 per cent have reduced or eliminated training camps and 80 per cent have increased athlete fees, said COC CEO David Shoemaker. "This is not guesswork. We had Deloitte run a study, and it's now gotten to the point where Deloitte's forecast shows that these NSOs will run an aggregate deficit of $329 million over the next five years," Shoemaker said. Federal politics is in flux, and an election could bring a seventh ministerial change in eight years to the sports portfolio. "Our government remains committed to supporting our national sport organizations [NSOs] and the athletes who inspire us," said a statement from the office of federal sports minister Terry Duguid, who was appointed in December. "We recognize the financial challenge they face, including rising training and competition costs." The statement referred to the raise in athletes' "carding" money last year, as well as $16 million committed to safe sport and $15 million for removing barriers to community sport programs over two years. Young athletes losing motivation over funding Olympic champion freestyle skier Cassie Sharpe and speedskater Ivanie Blondin are alarmed by what they see when they look over their shoulders. "The B and C athletes on the national team, they're on the national circuit to be at World Cups and world championships, but where those athletes used to have funding for flights and accommodation, the budget for that is much smaller," said Sharpe. Where once Speed Skating Canada sent a full contingent of 24 long-track skaters to international World Cups, it's now 16. "We're seeing a lot of young, talented athletes lose the motivation because the NSO doesn't have the means and the funds to be able to send them to international events or send them on training camps," Blondin said. Alpine Canada CEO Therese Brisson says the focus on preparing Olympic athletes leaves NextGen athletes to fund themselves. "Only athletes with means can participate when you have team fees in the $45,000 range," she said. "That keeps me up at night." Shoemaker says the government could direct more sports-betting revenue to NSOs. A Deloitte report released in 2024 stated the second year of regulated gambling in Ontario alone produced $380 million in federal government revenue.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Scarcity behind the medals: Canada's national sport organizations running deficits
TORONTO (AP) — The winner of a complete set of medals and Canada's Olympic flag-bearer in Beijing's closing ceremonies is in debt. Isabelle Weidemann wasn't comfortable stating how far she's in the red. The 29-year-old from Ottawa is paying for things her national sport organization can no longer afford. 'Even at this top level, three Olympic medals, got to carry the flag, the hope is you come out the other side and you're not too far from zero, that you don't have to spend years digging yourself out of this hole,' Weidemann said. 'To think we struggle to buy groceries, struggle to maintain equipment or purchase training necessities, all these expenses just to be able to compete with the rest of the world, there's such a discrepancy there.' See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Speed Skating Canada's chief executive officer Joe Morissette acknowledged his organization has cut back. 'Over many years, we've retreated in certain areas,' he stated. 'If funding is stagnant, we can only do so much.' The last increase in core federal funding for Canada's 62 summer and winter national sport organizations was in 2005. Core funding is money all NSOs count on to fund operations, athletes, coaches and support staff. Freestyle Canada's chief executive officer Peter Judge called it the 'blood in the veins' of his organization. It's different from Own The Podium money, which is targeted to sports demonstrating medal potential. A year out from the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, Canadian athletes are winning World Cup medals every weekend across multiple sports. Canada's nine gold medals and 27 total last year in Paris were both records for a non-boycotted Summer Olympics. But many sport leaders say those results aren't sustainable because of ballooning scarcity beneath them. 'What you're seeing is the last of the blood pumped through the veins,' Judge said. 'We're running a $600,000 deficit this year and we probably will have to again next year. Otherwise we just start firing people. We're down to skin and bones.' Reduced services for top athletes, such as fewer paid travel meals and less access to a team doctor on the road, and diminished support for the next generation were common themes. Two decades' worth of inflation since 2005 was cited as an aggravating factor. The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic committees lobbied on behalf of national sport organizations for a $104 million increase in annual core funding in the 2024 budget. The money was not forthcoming, although athletes received a 23% increase in their monthly Athletes Assistance Program (AAP) checks, from $1,765 per month to about $2,170. That raise is getting eaten up by athletes paying for more training and competition costs, and for an increase in 'team fees,' which is what athletes pay their federations. Bobsledders fork anywhere from $20,000 to $60,000 from their own pockets to Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, which CEO Kien Tran said was a five-fold increase over the previous year. 'If I could sum it up, because of this lack of funding, sports in Canada is becoming just pay to play,' Tran said. 'It falls on the athletes. You may be not be getting the best athletes. You may be getting the best athletes that can afford this.' Speed Skating Canada has dropped team fees marginally, but 'we've also downloaded so many new costs to our participants,' Morissette said. The COC and CPC are again lobbying the federal government on behalf of NSOs. The ask now is now for a $144 million annual increase in core funding in the 2025 budget. Survey data indicates 80% of NSOs are skipping competitions athletes would normally attend, 70% have paused, scaled back or eliminated programming, 90% have reduced or eliminated training camps and 80% have increased athlete fees, said COC CEO David Shoemaker. 'This is not guesswork. We had Deloitte run a study, and it's now gotten to the point where Deloitte's forecast shows that these NSOs will run an aggregate deficit of $329 million over the next five years,' Shoemaker said. Federal politics is in flux, and an election could bring a seventh ministerial change in eight years to the sports portfolio. 'Our government remains committed to supporting our national sport organizations (NSOs) and the athletes who inspire us,' said a statement from the office of federal sports minister Terry Duguid, who was appointed in December. 'We recognize the financial challenge they face, including rising training and competition costs.' The statement referred to the raise in athletes' 'carding' money last year, as well as $16 million committed to safe sport and $15 million for removing barriers to community sport programs over two years. Olympic champion freestyle skier Cassie Sharpe and speedskater Ivanie Blondin are alarmed by what they see when they look over their shoulders. 'The B and C athletes on the national team, they're on the national circuit to be at World Cups and world championships, but where those athletes used to have funding for flights and accommodation, the budget for that is much smaller,' said Sharpe. Where once Speed Skating Canada sent a full contingent of 24 long-track skaters to international World Cups, it's now 16. 'We're seeing a lot of young, talented athletes lose the motivation because the NSO doesn't have the means and the funds to be able to send them to international events or send them on training camps,' Blondin said. Alpine Canada CEO Therese Brisson says the focus on preparing Olympic athletes leaves NextGen athletes to fund themselves. 'Only athletes with means can participate when you have team fees in the $45,000 range,' she said. 'That keeps me up at night.' Shoemaker says the government could direct more sports-betting revenue to NSOs. A Deloitte report released in 2024 stated the second year of regulated gambling in Ontario alone produced $380 million in federal government revenue. 'That tax revenue could more than cover what we need as a contribution to the national sports system,' Shoemaker said. ___ AP sports:
Associated Press
05-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Scarcity behind the medals: Canada's national sport organizations running deficits
TORONTO (AP) — The winner of a complete set of medals and Canada's Olympic flag-bearer in Beijing's closing ceremonies is in debt. Isabelle Weidemann wasn't comfortable stating how far she's in the red. The 29-year-old from Ottawa is paying for things her national sport organization can no longer afford. 'Even at this top level, three Olympic medals, got to carry the flag, the hope is you come out the other side and you're not too far from zero, that you don't have to spend years digging yourself out of this hole,' Weidemann said. 'To think we struggle to buy groceries, struggle to maintain equipment or purchase training necessities, all these expenses just to be able to compete with the rest of the world, there's such a discrepancy there.' Speed Skating Canada's chief executive officer Joe Morissette acknowledged his organization has cut back. 'Over many years, we've retreated in certain areas,' he stated. 'If funding is stagnant, we can only do so much.' The last increase in core federal funding for Canada's 62 summer and winter national sport organizations was in 2005. Core funding is money all NSOs count on to fund operations, athletes, coaches and support staff. Freestyle Canada's chief executive officer Peter Judge called it the 'blood in the veins' of his organization. It's different from Own The Podium money, which is targeted to sports demonstrating medal potential. A year out from the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, Canadian athletes are winning World Cup medals every weekend across multiple sports. Canada's nine gold medals and 27 total last year in Paris were both records for a non-boycotted Summer Olympics. But many sport leaders say those results aren't sustainable because of ballooning scarcity beneath them. 'What you're seeing is the last of the blood pumped through the veins,' Judge said. 'We're running a $600,000 deficit this year and we probably will have to again next year. Otherwise we just start firing people. We're down to skin and bones.' Reduced services for top athletes, such as fewer paid travel meals and less access to a team doctor on the road, and diminished support for the next generation were common themes. Two decades' worth of inflation since 2005 was cited as an aggravating factor. The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic committees lobbied on behalf of national sport organizations for a $104 million increase in annual core funding in the 2024 budget. The money was not forthcoming, although athletes received a 23% increase in their monthly Athletes Assistance Program (AAP) checks, from $1,765 per month to about $2,170. That raise is getting eaten up by athletes paying for more training and competition costs, and for an increase in 'team fees,' which is what athletes pay their federations. Bobsledders fork anywhere from $20,000 to $60,000 from their own pockets to Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, which CEO Kien Tran said was a five-fold increase over the previous year. 'If I could sum it up, because of this lack of funding, sports in Canada is becoming just pay to play,' Tran said. 'It falls on the athletes. You may be not be getting the best athletes. You may be getting the best athletes that can afford this.' Speed Skating Canada has dropped team fees marginally, but 'we've also downloaded so many new costs to our participants,' Morissette said. The COC and CPC are again lobbying the federal government on behalf of NSOs. The ask now is now for a $144 million annual increase in core funding in the 2025 budget. Survey data indicates 80% of NSOs are skipping competitions athletes would normally attend, 70% have paused, scaled back or eliminated programming, 90% have reduced or eliminated training camps and 80% have increased athlete fees, said COC CEO David Shoemaker. 'This is not guesswork. We had Deloitte run a study, and it's now gotten to the point where Deloitte's forecast shows that these NSOs will run an aggregate deficit of $329 million over the next five years,' Shoemaker said. Federal politics is in flux, and an election could bring a seventh ministerial change in eight years to the sports portfolio. 'Our government remains committed to supporting our national sport organizations (NSOs) and the athletes who inspire us,' said a statement from the office of federal sports minister Terry Duguid, who was appointed in December. 'We recognize the financial challenge they face, including rising training and competition costs.' The statement referred to the raise in athletes' 'carding' money last year, as well as $16 million committed to safe sport and $15 million for removing barriers to community sport programs over two years. Olympic champion freestyle skier Cassie Sharpe and speedskater Ivanie Blondin are alarmed by what they see when they look over their shoulders. 'The B and C athletes on the national team, they're on the national circuit to be at World Cups and world championships, but where those athletes used to have funding for flights and accommodation, the budget for that is much smaller,' said Sharpe. Where once Speed Skating Canada sent a full contingent of 24 long-track skaters to international World Cups, it's now 16. 'We're seeing a lot of young, talented athletes lose the motivation because the NSO doesn't have the means and the funds to be able to send them to international events or send them on training camps,' Blondin said. Alpine Canada CEO Therese Brisson says the focus on preparing Olympic athletes leaves NextGen athletes to fund themselves. 'Only athletes with means can participate when you have team fees in the $45,000 range,' she said. 'That keeps me up at night.' Shoemaker says the government could direct more sports-betting revenue to NSOs. A Deloitte report released in 2024 stated the second year of regulated gambling in Ontario alone produced $380 million in federal government revenue. 'That tax revenue could more than cover what we need as a contribution to the national sports system,' Shoemaker said.
