Bowdens Silver

I would like to offer my support for the approval of the Bowdens Silver Mine near Mudgee. As a resident of NSW i feel it is vital that projects such as Bowdens are built so that more employment opportunities are created

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this EIS. My concern relates to the Electricity Transmission line options referred to in Appendix 9.
The appendix provides some information on several options under consideration for the route of a line to supply electricity to the proposed mine site. As a part owner of a property in the area I have noticed that the Queens Pinch (orange) option (Fig. A of Appendix 9, page A-5) will pass through my farm.

My concerns with this option are as follows:
1) The route appears to follow our only access road, which already has an 11kV powerline (supplying Windamere Dam). An additional powerline there would interfere with access and management of our property both during construction and operation.
2) Although it is not clear from the submission what type of poles would be required or if an easement would be sought, it is reasonable to assume that any construction would be noticeable and a potential eyesore that would detract from the natural beauty of the property and its market value.
3) We have a conservation agreement with the NSW Government’s Biodiversity Conservation Trust by which we have agreed to preserve defined native vegetation. This agreement is registered on title. The route of this option passes through the area covered by the agreement or nearby and it is likely the clearing requirements for any powerline easement would require removal of trees and other vegetation within the protected area. We also have endangered grassy box growing in the vicinity of this proposed route
4) This route crosses some very steep and heavily vegetated terrain and could be more expensive to build than some of the other longer options

Thank you.

I object to the Bowdens Silver Project , including the proposed mine development and the proposed water supply pipeline.
The proponent has submitted a document that does not properly address the development in particular the planning and construction and subsequent management of the water supply pipeline, the transportation of the processed ore from the mine via road, the rehabilitation of the site or the location, design, construction and management of the Tailings Storage Facility.
Please find attached my submission, supporting documentation and technical reports.

See attached Lue Action Group Cover Letter and supporting documentation (numbered 1 through 8).

I oppose this project on a range of environmental and social considerations, set out in the attached document.

Dear Sir/Madam
I wish to register my strong objection to the Bowdens Silver Mine at Lue, NSW.
My main concern is the potential for contaimination from the proposed tailings dam, leading to pollution of local waterways and particularly groundwater. The design of the tailings dam is inadequate to prevent contamination throughout the life of the mine. And who will be responsible for the management of the tailings dam when the mine closes operation? There is no indication of how long the local community will have to deal with potential water contamination into the future.
Also, relating to water, I don't believe that the Bowdens mine will be able to secure a sufficient water source to meet its needs. The possibility of a water pipeline from the Ulan mine is too uncertain. For a mine of such a large proposed capacity, this is a critical requirement to commence operation. And the water supply must be completely reliable for the life of the mine. Bowdens have yet to prove that they can secure a much needed water source.
Lastly, I am deeply concerned about the potential for lead dust affecting a community only 2.5km away from the proposed mine. This community includes a primary school. I fear that they will no longer be able to drink the rainwater, as happened in the village of Wollar, adjacent to the Wilpinjong mine. In the Wollar instance, the school was much further away and the children had to be issued with bottled water. The effects on the Lue school from the Bowdens mine may be greater with their closer proximity to an open cut mine. This is totally unacceptable, when the detrimental effects of lead have been documented for decades.

I strongly object to the Bowdens Silver project request for water supply proposal.

I object strongly to the Bowdens Silver Project (SSD 5765) - Request for Water Supply Amendment.

Please see attached