Bowdens Silver

Ground water needs to be protected at all costs. On the back of the worse drought in history and a horrific bushfire season, this project should not go a head. The environment is to precarious and precious to be compromised for short term gain.

The feasibility study for the Bowdens Silver project provides a compelling argument to progress what is the largest undeveloped silver deposit in Australia. Silver is currently experiencing substantial gains in value. This increases the prospects for this project to provide substantial economic stimulus to both NSW and Australia. The construction and ongoing running of the project will provide many local jobs, and as a direct consequence, provide a boost to the local community.

• This proposed mine should be named for what it is - a LEAD mine
• The EIS clearly underestimates the threat of acid mine drainage impacting on water courses in the area. The acid mine drainage from heavy metal mines has been proven to have caused continuing pollution for hundreds of years after mining activity has ceased (Overseas examples: The Rio Tinto in Spain, lead mines in Wales. More recent Australian examples: The Sunny Corner mine near Portland; Captains Flat near Canberra; Woodlawn mine near Tarago)
• It is concerning that the Bowden Silver EIS makes little mention of the ALARMING consequences of water levels of zinc, cadmium, copper and nickel on surrounding waterways, and of the fact that these levels will exceed the Australian and New Zealand guideline values for the water.
• Into the future, following closure of mining activity, Bowden Silver will cease to be responsible for the SERIOUS ongoing pollution it has caused to surrounding waterways, and this pollution is likely to be evident for hundreds of years.
• Ref: Submission made by Dr Haydn Washington on 16th July 2020
• Also, I object to this mine going ahead owing to the significant amount of water that will be needed for its operation. In the last few years, we have been experiencing the most severe drought conditions ever recorded and climate predictions indicate that our continent is highly likely to become drier into the future. It is unacceptable to be using vast quantities of water for a mine and that level of usage is highly likely have an adverse impact on the surrounding area.

I love visiting the region as a tourist and don't believe a toxic lead mine should be allowed to proceed

I object to the proposal on environmental grounds (details attached)

As a frequent tourist to the Mudgee region, I have been fortunate to observe and enjoy the natural wonders of the beautiful landscape and I do not think a toxic lead mine should be allowed to proceed. The Mudgee region is a prime tourist destination as people come to the area to appreciate good wine and food in a pristine location. The development of this project will deter large numbers of tourists from coming to the area and supporting the local economy. I object to the development of the proposed Bowdens lead, zinc and silver mine at Lue because of the potential for lead poisoning, a toxic tailings dam and acid forming rock perched above the water table of the Lawson Creek. The impact this would have on native wildlife including the Regent Honeyeaters and koalas deserves serious consideration and should alone be reason for the project not to proceed.

SUBMISSION

Applicant: Bowden’s Silver Pty. Ltd.
Application number: SSD 5765
Application: Bowden’s Silver Mine

I object to the Bowden Silver Mine at Lue. We run a grazing enterprise along the Hayes Gap road, which has been in my husband’s family for 6 generations. We market our produce as clean and unpolluted which I have noticed that Mudgee is marketing their tourism the same way, attracting an increasing number of people as tourists or looking at relocating to clean environment . With a mine of this size and the amount of toxic water and dust entering the environment it is far from clean. There is high risk of damage to the environment which will never be able to be rectified once lead and other toxic minerals from this mine has entered the atmosphere.

As Lue is only 2kms from Bowden’s Silver Mine it will bare all the pollutants of this mine. Lue as a town in the Mudgee region will be destroyed. No one will want to live in the area as lead dust from the silver mine once absorbed in the human body will never dissolve. It is a poison.

As we live along the Hayes Gap Road, we are also very concerned about the construction of the pipeline from Ulan to Lue. The water for the pipeline from Ulan is being transferred between two sources. The eastern catchment to the western catchment. The environmental changes to these rivers needs to be considered greatly. The water that will be transferred from the mines will have a high percentage of salinity and other minerals. As the pipeline is being placed underground, our valuable grazing land will be poisoned when it leaks which it will do. Will the line be regularly monitored, and compensation paid when damage occurs. Also when the mine is completed will the water still be needed to maintain the dams with in the mine?

From EIS, it states there will be intermediate processing plants placed along the pipeline. However there appears to be no locations or processing details in the EIS of how this will work and what happens to the toxic waste from these plants?

The pipeline is being constructed through various private properties and majority following along the local roads. These roads have in places less than 10 metres of edging on either side, particularly the Hayes Gap Road. Therefore it will have to be constructed under the road. How will this be maintained? The Hayes Gap Road struggles to be safe in various weather conditions.

The Hayes Gap Road has received over the years, funding from the State Government to establish an environmental corridor which has been very successful. This will be destroyed with the construction of the pipeline as the road is lined with century old trees and recent rehabilitation. It is also to be noted that there is significant presence of Aboriginal heritage along this road.

As farmers we are also very concerned about the water that will be required from underground water for the Bowden's Silver Mine. Bowden’s admit that this will reduce the water level by 25 metres on site, the question is what will this do to the surrounding community that rely on this water for stock and domestic. We have just been through a drought which has caused enormous limitations on this water without the mine. The other thing to be considered is the lead dust that will settle on our valuable agricultural land, can we be assured that it won’t make an impact on the agricultural products we produce.

As there is not a domestic water pipeline to Lue, will the Mudgee Council or Bowden’s Silver Mine supply a pipeline to Lue for drinking water as the roofs on the residents’ houses will be polluted from the toxic dust and will make water unsafe to drink.

With a mine like Bowden’s that produces a large amount of toxic wastes that cannot be removed from the site what happens if there is an environmental disaster, for example dams break or acid rock leaks . All tailing mines around the world leak. If environment is destroyed it will take 100 years to repair. Leaving Mudgee to deal with a poisoned creek running through the middle it. So if this happens after the 16 years of the mine’s life will Bowden’s (or another company who has purchased this mine) still be responsible for the ecological catastrophe they have caused. What do we do? Who funds this?

It is also noted that the lead/silver and zinc produced from this mine will be transported through Mudgee in B doubles to Parkes and Kelso, this being approximately six B double loads daily. The Lue to Mudgee road is dangerous, quite a narrow road. However the road from Mudgee to Wellington then Parkes and Mudgee to Kelso are considered narrower and more dangerous in the present state. The increase traffic on these road will definitely erode the road and cause more accidents. The roads need to be up graded. Are the Wellington, Parkes and Bathurst Councils aware of the increase traffic movement? Will the State government pay for these up grades and extra wear and tear on these roads or will this be left to the Mid Western/Wellington/Parkes/Bathurst Council to maintain.

Bowden Silver Mine are very proud of the increased employment they are providing to the area. However, this may not help the community when people wishing to come to Mudgee either as a tourist or future residents, wishing to escape from the city find that they are next door to a silver/lead mine where the laden trucks with toxic minerals are travelling through Mudgee. The unfortunately outcome is the increased tourism which Mudgee has been working on for a number of years with great success will decrease and so will the jobs associated with beautiful Mudgee. All for the gain of 200 jobs.

The danger of this mine far out ways the benefits. We are in a period where Global Warming is a major concern. Everyone is worried about what will happen in the future. The life span of the Bowden’s Silver mine is only 16 years, in this time and for hundreds of years later the consequences of this mine to the environment will be felt. From health to the residents of Lue, to environment impact to Lue/Mudgee area both ecologically and economically. It will continue. The Lue Township will be gone as no one will want to live there next door to lead and silver mine. The risk of this silver mine is so high that I believe that it far out ways the benefit. We need to be kept responsible for the future!

The Bowden's Silver Project will provide jobs, support local industries and give support into the local communities. I strongly support the development of this project, especially during a time when jobs are scarce and economic future of our nation uncertain.

Objection to Bowdens Silver Project

I object to the proposed Bowdens Silver Project for the following reasons:

1. Intergenerational equity:

The principle of intergenerational equity (a central component of sustainable development in Australia), holds that the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations.

The significant and long term environmental impacts of the proposed Bowdens project would go against this principle of intergenerational equity.

At present, the Lue and broader Rylstone/Mudgee district has an exceptionally high standard of human health, environment, diversity and productivity.

If this project is allowed to go ahead and the significant human health impacts associated with lead, and the environmental impacts associated with Acid Mine Drainage and other mining associated impacts are realised, then all four of these criteria core to intergenerational equity will be negatively impacted.

Lead will cause negative human health outcomes, particularly for the young and future generations.

Acid mine drainage will cause irreparable damage to the water table, surface water and general environment for many years to come, burdening future generations with a toxic legacy and degraded, unproductive environment.

These two things combined would serve to ruin the current diversity of industry enjoyed in the region, where tourism and agriculture are thriving sectors.

2. Acid Forming Rock and Acid Mine Drainage:

I am concerned about the project’s potential to create large areas of potentially acid forming rock and toxic tailings, the disposal of which has the potential to create significant negative environmental issues, not least for our groundwater and the Lawson Creek.

We rely on both groundwater and the Lawson Creek surface water to run our livestock operation. We also use water from the Lawson Creek to wash our clothes, grow fruit and vegetables and water our garden.

The proposed storage and containment approach outlined in the Bowdens EIS is untested on a large scale and therefore the risks associated are too great.

3. Human health impacts:

The human health impacts associated with lead exposure are well established. I do not think the risks associated with exposure to lead (either airborne or otherwise) have been accurately assessed in the EIS. I do not believe the project has sufficient merit to overcome the established and inevitable negative health impacts that would result for the residents of Lue and the broader community if this mine is to go ahead.

Job creation must not come at the expense of human health.

4. Traffic movements:

The EIS proposes to transport explosives and chemicals daily along the Lue Road, towards and through Mudgee. The impact of these increased traffic movements and the transport of dangerous or volatile materials have not been adequately assessed, and stakeholders living along the Lue Road have not been adequately consulted with regarding this impact.

Beyond the safety risk created by increased traffic, this high volume of truck movements would negatively impact amenity, noise levels, property value of landholders with dwellings close to the road and the appeal of the region to our thousands of annual tourist visitors. The Lue road is a popular cycling and tourism thoroughfare, and this project poses a significant risk in that regard.

5. Water usage:

The impacts of the proposed volume of water take by the Bowdens project have not been adequately quantified nor assessed. This mine is proposed in a greenfields area, surrounding by prime agricultural land, include some land classified as BSAL land. The risks posed to the both ground and surface water are too great.

6. Flora and Fauna:

The mine site is in the middle of recognised habitats of endangered and critically endangered flora and fauna, like the Regent Honeyeater. The EIS is inadequate regarding the prevention of negative impacts on native flora and fauna, and the proposed rehabilitation budget is inadequate to sufficiently redress these impacts after mine closure.

7. Diversity of Industry:

At present, Mid-Western Regional Council area (our Local Government Area) has managed to preserve strong diversity of industry across the region - with active mining, agriculture and tourism sectors.

The site of the Bowdens proposed mine sits in the middle of some of the region's most productive agricultural land, and on a busy Mudgee - Rylstone tourist drive (the Lue road). The mine itself, along with the longer term negative environmental impacts like Acid Mine Drainage would spell the end of this balance in the region. Agricultural land would become unproductive due to contamination, and the visual beauty and amenity of the region would be destroyed by a large open cut pit and increased mine traffic (including multiple daily movements of B Double trucks carting explosives, chemicals and mine product). Noise and dust pollution would only further degrade the area.

Mining plays a key role in the diversity of the region, but the development of a heavy metals mine on a greenfields site in the middle of tourist and agricultural hub would be catastrophic to the region's ability to maintain the fine balance it currently enjoys.

My submission is that this project should not be approved.

Susannah White
1763 Lue Road
MUDGEE NSW 2850

The Bowden Silver Mine project only 2 kms from the Lue community should not go ahead. This project is very concerning to the Lue and greater Mudgee Regions. Bowden’s Silver mine is proposing to pump dirty very salty water from Ulan Coal Mine across 60 km of valuable fertile farming land. I think this is unacceptable, as the landholders will receive no compensation for the devaluation of their land or the inconvenience and environmental degradation they will experience as a result of the pipeline. Furthermore, the Bowden Silver project is only expected to run for about 16 years yet the infrastructure, inconvenience and changes to the landscape as a result of the pipeline will last for hundreds of years. The risk of some water leaking through the pipe is high and once their is a leak the damage has already been done. A leak in the pipeline would severely impact the land and it's fertility, as well as is ability to provide for the native flora and fauna. This is because the water to be pumped from Ulan Coal Mines is very saline and hence would increase salinity of the land to abnormal levels around the pipeline if there was a leak. Bowden's proposes that the water would be useful in times of high bush fire activity. However as a primary producer and land holder I would strongly discourage this water to be used, for the future impacts of the increased salinity would be immense and felt for generations to come.
The pipeline is to follow much of the Hayes Gap Road. The Hayes Gap Road is a dirt road that winds around some trees that would be 100 plus years old. Bowdens is proposing an easement of 10 metres either side of the pipeline. For this to happen and the very construction of the pipeline many of the 100 year old trees would have to be cut down and the Hayes Gap Road straightened. Is Bowden's going to pay for this cost of the road work? What happens to the wildlife that live in those trees? By choosing to put the pipeline in, that is a choice to leave the surrounding environment of where I live, work and love in a worse state than when I was born.
This is unacceptable, to choose to leave the environment to future generations in a state of disrepair.

A mining project in close proximity to Lue village, surrounding waterways and prime agricultural land will threaten air and water quality in the area.

I am writing to request this silver mining project be denied on the following grounds :
1. Contamination of water resources to the community of Lue
2. the levels of lead will be within the ranged deemed toxic
3. The yield of silver will be very small relative to the impact on the local community /communities.
4. Lead is detrimental to brain development of children. Our children deserve a healthy environment as they are our future.
5. The area impacted will not benefit from this mine, relative to the negative impacts of mining.
Faithfully
Jennifer Michalski
Educational Consultant

Please refer to my pdf attachment

I object to this project for the following reasons:

1. The creation of a 26 million tonne potentially acid forming waste rock area covering 77hectares and perched above the water table.

2. The creation of a massive tailings dam containing 30 million tonnes of potentially acid forming tailings, toxic chemicals and heavy metals covering 117 ha and perched above the water table forever. The proposed containment methods are unproven on this scale.

3. The risks of water contamination to ground and surface water and the excessive demand for water for this project.

4. The increased traffic on the Lue - Mudgee road. Heavy vehicles transporting explosives, toxic chemicals and lead dust through the local area and Mudgee township.

5. The proximity alone of this proposed mine to Lue Village and its Primary School with the probability of lead dust exposure should rule out this proposal.

6. Negative health outcomes from exposure to lead dust. There is no successful method of completely eliminating exposure to lead dust .

7. This proposal is not a suitable fit with the existing industries in the region. Tourism, wedding, food, wine, agriculture and lifestyle enterprises are vibrant, successful and sustainable and as such should not be placed at risk.

8. The proponent's lack of experience as a major miner is of concern. This project has enormous potential for catastrophic environmental outcomes for perpetuity.

9. The short and long term risks of this proposal far outweigh the benefits. The true intent of the proponent should be questioned.

Having reviewed the EIS I am in support of the proposed project. I have found many of the locally raised concerns to be addressed within the proposal.

I support the project, this will create local employment and stimulate the economy.

To whom it may concern,

Upon learning of the plans for the Bowdens Silver mine I was, and continue to be infuriated that such a development can even be in consideration to go ahead. NSW is already littered with mining operations and their remnants that affect (and in many cases continue for a long time to affect) not only the flora and fauna in the immediate surroundings, but also the groundwater, to the further reaching detriment of agricultural land.

Let's suspend our disbelief for a moment and assume the mine can operate with an unblemished environmentally friendly track record (never happened in the entirety of human history). There are still the twin issues of proximity to the local community (2.5km from the centre of the village of Lue and the Lue Public School) as well as the financial viability of the project. Silver is a highly volatile commodity and it is extremely likely that the mine will not operate for its planned lifetime and a suspension of operations would occur at some point. Needless to say this would be devastating to the local community.

I urge all who are involved here to reconsider the decision to let another blight on the Australian landscape go ahead. If we all take personal responsibility where we can, we can help ensure this country can be kept in a comparable condition for generations to come.

Daniel

Bowdens Silver Project

My name is Ted Combes and I live at 2498 Lue Rd, Lue, N.S.W 2850. I am writing to you against the Bowdens Silver Mine.
My home is 2km from the proposed mine site, where I have grown up and lived my entire life. After spending time across different parts of the world, I find comfort here in Lue, an amazing and beautiful part of the world, that’s peaceful, and healthy for the future of my family. Somewhere I call my home.
I am deeply discouraged that an inexperienced company is allowed to put a proposition forward to destroy an important part of the earth. The Bowdens silver mine is the most environmentally destroying proposition to ever hit the mid-wester regional council area, creating a very scary future for us all.
Firstly, Silver Mines Limited has never made, or operated a mine before. Their inexperience in the field can cause a potentially disastrous outcome to the entire Lue valley, including the water system that connects the valley, the natural habitat of a large range of animal species like Koala and Honeyeater, the roads that we have to travel each day that are not designed for a large number of heavy trucks and machinery, and also harm the standard that is expected from mining in the country. Using modelling to determine the design and running of the proposed mine is not good enough, and the future of the valley can’t be put up to chance.
Secondly, Bowdens proposes to use 2050megalitres of water each year. Most of that being from the local valley. Destroying the valleys water table and leaving the whole area dry and baron. The void, left as an eye-sore for eternity will take 100years to fill, yet 100 more years to hopefully replenish the water table. The village, which isn’t connected to a major water source, gains most of its water through bores and rainwater catchment. All of them in risk of drying up and leaving the village with no water. Alongside destroying the available water to the village and surrounding area, the Bowdens silver project will cover over a 5km radius from the mine site with a continuous layer of lead dust. Contaminating our land, houses, and drinking water sources. Studies show that constant lead exposure will cause major increases in Lead Blood levels and a direct effect on the ongoing health of the community, Especially those between the age of 0-5yrs. With an age demographic either over 50, or as young as 1, Lue’s population is one to be greatly affected. The Primary School only 2km from the mine. These hazardous effects have already been seen in areas like Broken Hill, where exposure to lead can be poisonous to human’s health up to a distance of over 5km from the mine site.
I’m writing this submission against the Bowdens Silver project, because it will have a deep effect on my life, The future of me and my family, and my connection with the area. I’m worried for the healthy future of myself and my family as we will have to be exposed to the damaging effects of lead and acid that will contaminate our home, our water source and our food.
I am deeply against this project, and I would hope it will never be allowed to destroy my home.
I propose that the mine project be closed and the area rejuvenated.

I support this project as it necessary to extract resources like silver, in order to produce products for environmentally sustainable energy supply, such as solar panels. Bowdens Silver is a responsible company that will ensure all activities are undertaken in an environmentally and culturally accountable manner and will ensure compliance with relevant criteria/goals. This project will also provide an economic stimulus for the local Mudgee economy by increasing use of local businesses and services.