Locals disappointed after mining project given approval

Phoebe Loomes | April 5, 2023

Local residents have expressed their disappointment after a mining project was granted approval despite community concerns.

The Bowdens Silver Project in central western NSW was given the go-ahead despite more than 1000 letters of opposition.

The site is located two kilometres from the village of Lue, east of Mudgee. It will operate from construction through to rehabilitation in 2046, mining two million tonnes of silver, lead and zinc each year.

Susannah White, a local beef and cattle farmer, spoke against the proposal at public forums and said the community had not been heard.

Her business relies on water from the Lawson Creek, which will be used by the Bowdens mine.

“We are very worried about water quality and quantity impacts of the mine, should it go ahead,” Ms White told AAP.

“We’re obviously very disappointed with the decision of the Independent Planning Commission.”

The Lue Action Group represents about 300 locals.

“We put together several submissions to the commission, which included some really detailed work from numerous experts across the areas of lead impacts, human and animal health, groundwater, surface water, dust and social impacts,” she said.

“We really feel like the majority of our concerns have been largely ignored.”

Ms White said about 80 per cent of those who spoke at the hearings were against the project. A handful of locals supported the mine.

Before approval was granted, the state’s planning commission visited the site and held three days of hearings, taking 1900 written submissions.

More than half opposed the mine, raising concerns about health and water supply, as well as damage to Aboriginal cultural heritage and biodiversity.

Less than half of the written submissions supported the mine, with those in favour citing employment and economic opportunities.

The majority of submissions against the project came from central western NSW, with many objections also sent from Sydney.

Contributions also came from Perth, Adelaide, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

The approval was granted on a series of conditions, including regular voluntary blood tests for locals and air monitoring for lead dust.

Greens MP Sue Higginson described the NSW planning system as “broken”.

“It pits mining giants against communities on a far from level playing field,” she said.

She called on incoming planning minister Paul Scully to travel to Lue and review the decision.

A spokesman for the newly elected NSW Labor government said it supported the commission’s independence, adding that blood monitoring of residents was found not to be necessary, but would be offered. 

“The government supports the independence of the Independent Planning Commission in its assessment and determination of planning proposals and expects all the conditions imposed on this project to be implemented,” the spokesman said.

Under settings put in place by the former coalition government, the decision was referred to public hearings, removing the community’s rights to appeal the decision through the Land and Environment Court.

“The community has nowhere to go to test and challenge these findings,” Ms Higginson said.

“We desperately need to reform the system to give communities a real voice in critical decisions that put them at risk.”

Bowdens Silver has been contacted for comment.