Mod 14 - Processing Rate Increase

I support Cowal Gold Mine and the proposed modification. The mine
provides employment within our community and supports local
businesses. The mine also supports local events, sporting groups and
charities.

As a former employee at the Cowal Gold Mine, while it was under the
management of previous owners, I was inticately aware of the
significant social and economic benefits that the Mine delivers for
the local communities for the Bland, Forbes and Lachlan Shires, along
with the very significant benefits that flow to local Indigenous
Communities, in particular via the mine's very strong relationship
with the Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation.

Since my departure from the mine and the commencement of management by
Evolution Mining, I have been pleased to observe the continuation of
those very significant benefits to the communities.

In my experience, the Cowal Gold Mine can be held our as an exemplar
for executing outstanding environmental management and risk mitigation
processes such that the environmental record at the Cowal Gold Mine
remains beyond reproach.

My observation of the Modification being proposed by Evolution Mining
is that the environmental risks have been well-contemplated and will
be mitigated in a manner consistent with the abovementioned record of
outstanding environmental performance at this site.

In light of the identification, mitigation and effective management of
these risks, this modification will serve to improve the ongoing
economic viability of the operations at Cowal, thereby ensuring the
continuing flow of economic and social benefits that have been a
feature of the Cowal Gold Mine for many years.

We are in support of the modifications. The mine creates jobs and is good
for business in our town.

In relation to the new modification submitted for Cowal Gold Mine: I
think the modification is a great thing for the community and the
region. It seems the energy continues to grow for Cowal Gold Mine,
providing more opportunity for locals and regional people. My opinion
is that Cowal has an excellent record of Environmental Management and
Evolution are conscientious operators who are serious about ensuring
things are done right and will continue to do so. Opportunities to
expand or improve while remaining environmentally, safety and
community focused should always be pursued.

I believe the Cowal gold mine is a positive move for the surrounding
towns as it provides employment, income to local business and a
positive future for infrastructure in all surrounding towns.
the mine has shown to support local employment which is great

As a supplier of local employment, BK Hire fully supports the proposal.

The Mod 14 Processing Rate Modification approval will help provide and
secure new and existing employment not only for the employees and
contractors working at the mine but the small businesses in the
surrounding towns. Businesses are at a point where they are now
relying on the employees living in these surrounding towns to support
them and buy locally keeping them open.

The Cowal Gold mine keeps locals employed as well as brings new faces to
the town, increasing the cash injection within the town and
surrounding areas. I fully support Cowals plans.

To whom it may concern,

I have been working at Cowal Gold Operation for about 1 year and
living in West Wyalong for the same amount of time.

What I enjoy most about working at Cowal is the professional and
dedicated care the teams have for environmental and community
preservation. It is an enormous privilege to be able to work at a site
that applies the resources required to minimise the impacts of mining
on the environment and in addition; do the work necessary to recognise
and preserve cultural heritage.

Having lived in town for the last year, it is also hard to miss the
care the company has in managing contractors to ensure that they
behave as guests in the local community. I have had the opportunity to
become involved in local sports and activities where mine employees
are clearly also community minded people (and locals). People ranging
from the GM level to 'coal face' workers and operators are involved in
the rich sporting, agriculture and traditional culture of the
community. It would be a shame to see the integrity and richness of
the the various local communities threatened by an unnecessary closure
of a mine that has operated fairly, with compliance and with concern
for environment, cultural heritage and community well-being.

Approval will lead to extension of current jobs, creating new employment,
and benefiting local businesses with the continuation of the
population growth.

I fully support this modification. Increasing the processing rate will
give better economies of scale and make the operation more
economically viable especially in latter years processing low grade
ore enabling a potentially longer mine life.

The IWL will reinforce the current tailings storage facilities making
them more stable and reduces the potential for disturbing more land if
new tailing facilities had to be built to accommodate tailing going
forward. It will also create a continuous land form for the end of the
mine life

The Modification to increase the processing rate for Cowal Gold Operation
(CGO) would require additional delivery trucks and additional road
transport movements associated with employee movements. Employee
movements are mitigated by the use of buses. Notwithstanding, a number
of minor road treatments such as signage and road surface treatments
are proposed to mitigate potential impacts on the road network.
The Modification would not change potential impact mechanisms to the
public or to public property, to the extent that previously identified
hazard or risk levels for the CGO would increase.
Any of the minor road upgrading works should be funded by the
proponent.
The sustainable management of mineral resources must consider and
balance the varying impacts to produce long-term economic, social and
environmental outcomes. This can be achieved by the imposition of
appropriate conditions of consent.
Lachlan Shire Council support the proposed modification of consent and
will continue to play an active role in the Consultative Committee.

The proposed modification has very minimal effect on the environment or
ecosystem internally and externally of the mine life.

I support the proposed mod as it is purely to benefit production that
will support economic value for surrounding communities.

I wish to make a positive submission in support of the contents of the
MOD 14 application. I have been associated with the Cowal gold mine
for approximately 12 months now and truly believe that the expansion
plans for which approval is being sought are sustainable and that they
are predicated on the impeccable environmental and general compliance
track record which this mine has earned to date. Nothing in this MOD
14 submission will threaten that track record and everyone on site is
fully committed to replicating and improving on the mines performance
over its past life into the future. I am very proud to be associated
with this mine and it is my genuine impression that everyone of the
employees feels the same.

Evolution Mining have shown themselves to be genuine in the desire to be
a good corporate citizen of the local community. On going activity at
the mine can only be a positive influence in the area.

To Whom it Concerns
The West Plains Water Users Association (WPWUA) strongly objects to
the Cowal Gold Mine Mod 14 with regards to the use of water from the
Bland Creek Paelochannel as we believe that the use of that water is
unsustainable in the long term.
We believe the main source of water should come from the Lachlan River
extraction via Jemalong Irrigation Limited.
In the initial report done by Coffy and Partners, the use of 10
megalitres per day was deemed unsustainable, yet the former owners
went ahead regardless and the drawdown of the aquifer was massive from
15 metres to 60 metres below ground level in 2005/6.
Evolution seems to have the same attitude, with NSW State Water says
there has been no recharge from the 2016 flood event.
We do not believe that the stated Hydrological Assessment for the
Modification Appendix A of 4.4 MG/day is sustainable, nor will be
adhered to. There was next to no allocation of water from JIL during
the drought years of 2002 - 10, so maximum extraction was occurring
from the Bland Creek Paelochannel . Similarly, in dry years maximum
water will have to come from the Bland Paelochannel and saline bore
fields .
The figures in Table 3.2 appear to be unrealistic, based on past draw
downs of the Paelochannel during drought years, and show a lack of
rigorous assessment of the reality and impact of State Water's ZERO
allocation in drought years.
The farms on the eastern side of Lake Cowal depend heavily on the
Bland Creek Paelochannel for stock and domestic water, and depend
exclusively on it in times of drought.
The proposed modification assertions of the reliability of temporary
Lachlan River Water is incorrect, and shows a complete lack of study
of historical fact - temporary water is not guaranteed from year to
year.
Additionally, just because there have been no critical incidents
relating to the transport of hazardous materials, does not mean that
there will not be in the future, so rigorous guidelines/study need to
stay in place to protect the environment and animal and human life.

We are submitting a response in favour of the extension of the mine - the
mine has over the years provided the community of West Wyalong with
excellent employment opportunities - allowing the younger members of
the West Wyalong community to remain in the town thereby providing
opportunities for new businesses to come to town and improve the
unemployment rate in the community.
The mine has contributed to many different charity organisations in
the town and has been supportive of many businesses in the town
through either using their services or buying their goods through the
town - it has also provided financial assistance to allow businesses
or services in the town to expand and to provide a better service to
all members of the West Wyalong community.
Over recent years the communications between the local farmers and
Evolution Mines has improved considerably compared to the former owner
of Cowal Gold Mine.

Our water user groups (Trigalana Water Users Group inc & East Trigalana
Water Users Group Inc) rely solely on the Bland Paleo Channel for
stock and domestic water for our properties. We feel that the water
modelling is not sufficient in relation to the proposed mod 14. The
priority external water source is the Bland Paleo Channel and we would
like to see more emphasis placed upon using Lachlan River water which
is available to be traded in through the Jemalong Irrigation Ltd
infrastructure whilst the water is available.

The mine has brought work for locals and for the younger generation. We
need to keep the younger generation in West Wyalong to grow our
community and keep businesses from closing.

Evolution mining continues to operate the Lake Cowal Gold mine
responsively, efficiently and within the existing environmental
guidelines. It's proposed modification and supporting documentation
clearly show the level of detail Evolution Mining is prepared to go to
ensure it continues this focus into the future.
This wholly Australian owned company continues to support the local
and surrounding communities by providing employment, economic, and
social security. I would therefore like to offer my support for the
Mod 14 Processing Rate Increase at Lake Cowal Gold Mine.