ASX-listed Victory Metals has completed baseline environmental and biological studies at the North Stanmore heavy rare earth project in Cue, Western Australia.

Victory says the results reinforce the project’s strong development credentials and provide a high level of confidence for stakeholders, with studies to date confirming no environmental impediments that impact the advancement of the project.

Additionally, the company says these positive findings also demonstrate that North Stanmore can move forward responsibly and sustainably, further strengthening Victory’s position as a future world-class supplier of heavy rare earths outside of China, aligned with Western supply chain security and global demand for ethical, low-impact resources.

Victory CEO and executive director Brendan Clark describes baseline environmental studies as an important step in de-risking a project, expressing that these results are highly encouraging.

Victory says it commissioned multiple expert consultancy firms to provide comprehensive baseline biological – flora, fauna and subterranean – and biophysical studies – surface water, groundwater, soils and waste characterisation – across the North Stanmore project area.

The company says results were highly encouraging with no threatened flora or ecological communities being recorded.

Surface water flows have also been identified as being consistent with regional norms and can be successfully managed and groundwater studies indicate no surplus water generation, with the project outside Cue’s town drinking water supply area

The company says these outcomes demonstrate that the project has no major environmental impediments and can advance confidently toward development.

“To confirm no threatened flora or ecological communities and no major fauna constraints across our project area gives Victory a clear path forward from an approval’s perspective.

“This reinforces North Stanmore as one of the most strategic and development-ready heavy rare earth clay projects in Australia and we remain focused on progressing the prefeasibility study at rapid pace, advancing funding discussions, and ensuring that Victory develops responsibly, sustainably mining practices,” says Clark.