During a visit to Stawell last week, Ms D'Ambrosio met with residents, Stawell Gold Mine and Northern Grampians Shire Council.

"I took the opportunity to meet up with some residents," Ms D'Ambrosio said.

"It was a very positive meeting and they were able to explain to me their concerns," she said.

Sherrie Hunt is opposed to any proposal to open cut mine Big Hill as she lives within close proximity to the originally proposed Big Hill Enhanced Development Project.

Mrs Hunt said meeting with the Minister allowed for her and others to seek clarification about the process moving forward.

"We were able to have a really good discussion about the health issues that arose," she said.

"We now understand how the process works and are totally confident in the process going forward.

"We have consulted experts and we believe there are no new measures that could be implemented to mitigate the outstanding health issues."

Late last year an independent planning panel recommended the proposed Big Hill Enhanced Development Project should not be approved due to significant environmental and health impacts.

Ms D'Ambrosio said the onus was now on Crocodile Gold to put forward a proposal that addressed the serious health issues raised by the independent experts.

"We know that through the independent planning panel that considered the original application, there were some very serious health issues that had not been able to be addressed through the EES process," she said.

"Those matters are outstanding. No progress can be made unless or until those critical health concerns are addressed by the proponents."

Ms D'Ambrosio said the State Government had established a process that she believes will allow all of the key stakeholders to be able to put forward their views and ensure the critical health issues are addressed.

"There is a process that has been put in place, a process that is transparent, that is fair and will give all of the key stakeholders the opportunity to engage and put their views across in terms of what the future could look like," she said.

"We know that it is an issue that is very divisive in the community and we're ensuring as a government that all of the key stakeholders are able to have input and be given due consideration of their views through this proper and independent process."

Ms D'Ambrosio said the current process is being facilitated by various government departments.

"The ball is in the court of Crocodile Gold, they are working through their proposal," she said.

"Once their proposal is submitted to the Planning Minister, the Planning Minister will then be in a position to determine the process that needs to be applied at that point.

"What will be applied is an independent expert panel assessment of the proposal."

Ms D'Ambrosio said she wouldn't speculate on the likely form of Crocodile Gold's proposal, only outline the process for when any proposal is forthcoming.

"If it is a new project then there will be a whole set of issues that will need to be addressed," she said.

"If it is a variation of an existing project then there will be similarly a process that will be suitable to that situation.

"The point is though very clearly that in either case the health concerns that were raised under the original EES, through the expert planning panel will need to be addressed and that is now within the hands of Crocodile Gold."

Northern Grampians Shire Councillor Kevin Erwin said council discussed the future of the Stawell Gold Mine with the Minister.

"We highlighted how important job creation is to the area and that this was one of the projects that could provide that," he said.

"However, it really is up to the mine to meet those obligations, we support what ever action they take."

Ms D'Ambrosio said the government understood the importance of job growth to regional communities like Stawell, however that shouldn't come at the expense of the health of residents living within the community.

"We as a government are very committed to jobs and we understand the importance of jobs in regional Victoria, however we have to make sure that any proposal for future jobs doesn't come at the expense of serious health concerns for the community," she said.

"We're very keen to ensure the process that we have put in place will allow all those issues to be flushed out in a way that is transparent and fair."