Bowdens Silver

As attached

I am objecting to the project to move the power lines for bowdens silver mine my reasons are as follows;
This would be moving the power lines closer to my home.
The noise that they omit would be of a great disturbance and very unsettling.
It is going to destroy a lot of the vegetation and harm/kill our wildlife.

Bowdens Silver mine will provide the Mudgee area and wider LGA with significant opportunities for employment. With the decline of coal mining over the next decade, this opportunity is welcomed by many in the wider community.

Members of MDEG object to this project. The EIS is deficient and the Response to Submissions is inadequate.

I object to SSD 5765

See attached

I live in Rylstone, about 20 kilometres from Lue, and strongly object to the Bowden Silver Mine Amendmendment SSD - 5765 which requires the realignment of the Transgrid high voltage power line closer to Lue. The local area is a beautiful part of NSW, with stunning landscapes which need to be preserved.

My objections are:
1 The high voltage power lines will be 500 metres closer to Lue.

2 Rerouting the power lines to a ridge line with elevations up to 725 metres will have a significant negative visual impact on the residents of Lue and on the natural landscape.

3 The negative impact on biodiversity: the proposed power line will result in the destruction of a large area (147.82) of grassy box woodland, 'a critically endangered ecological community' under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The clearing of this grassy box woodland will result in the loss of habitat for important native animals, including the loss of hollow bearing trees. For the barking owl, hollows in trees are used as nesting and roosting sites. They are also important habitat for the greater broad-nosed bat, gliders and possums. The loss of grassy box woodland will also affect the local koala population through loss and fragmentation of habitat. The koala is listed as 'vulnerable to extinction' under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. The Black Summer Fires of 2019-2020 destroyed large areas of koala habitat in NSW and in this district. There is no point in having a Recovery Plan for the Koala (Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW, November 2008) if their habitat is continually cleared and fragmented.

4 The impact on Aboriginal cultural heritage has not been adequately assessed. There are important rock shelters in the area, some of which contain rock art, that have not been identified, while the importance of those that have been identified have been classified as 'low'. This judgement is disputed by local indigenous people who place a high value on their cultural heritage. There needs to be consultation with the local knowledge holders to determine the impact of the power line realignment on cultural sites, artefacts and songlines.

Thankyou for the opportunity to submit a submission opposing the amendment for Bowdens Silver Project.
My property R37 will be substantially impacted if this project proceeds to mining.
As stated in my submission for the EIS in 2020,I do not accept the modelling for my property which according to VLAMP policy, states the impact to be negligible. I clearly hear exploration activity.
My property is on the north side of Cox street, facing north looking directly at ridgeline affected by realigned transmission line. My view would be changed by loss of tree canopy, transmission towers, lines and easement, The transmission line would be on top of ridgeline, being very visible as elevation is up to 750 metres.
The exact location of the realignment of line has not been determined. The three stages of investigation by Transgrid have not been attended. How can a decision on this amendment be made until investigations are complete.
It is stated that the easement would be partially rehabilitated. The objective being to establish ground cover. It could be difficult for vegetation to establish and survive due to position on top of ridgeline, soils becoming heated and hydrophobic. There is also risk of soil erosion. Permanent loss of tree canopy will occur.
Bowdens Silver states there has been no specific engagement with the community. I have never been consulted regarding the realignment of power line, change to visual composition, increased noise and dust during construction.
The line will be visible to most of Lue township to varying degrees. Properties north of Cox street and elevated acreages, west of Lue will be properties of greater visual impact. There will be permanent change to view composition of skyline. There will be loss of visual quality.
The project will destroy 147.82 ha of box gum woodland which will cause fragmentation of this critically
endangered ecological community. In the central west of NSW 95% of grassy woodland community has been lost, 12.6 ha will be destroyed due to transmission line
Near the proposed line there are hollow bearing trees which are important to barking owls and the greater broad nosed bat.
There has been insufficient assessment of koalas. The loss of 139.59 ha of suitable habitat for koalas does not follow objectives of the NSW koala recovery plan.
Wellington Valley Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporation, Gallanggabang Aboriginal Corporation and individual Booral
Maliyan with apical ancestry to the district do not support the project or amendment as they have serious concerns.
While projects destroy physical traditional sites, it is a significant loss to aboriginal heritage as all
sites tell the ancestors story across the landscape which is extremely important for future generations to
have this knowledge. Landscape and environment are the road maps and traditional pathways are affected by changes to physical
landscape. Placing artifacts in "safe keeping" ignores the importance of leaving these sites intact and protected. The loss of these sites are high in this traditional clan area. It is distressing that the majority of artifact sites in the EIS and amendment are classified as low by the team employed
by Bowdens Silver.
It is unsatisfactory that the rock shelter with hand stencils has not been located. It is essential that this site is located and protected.

"Alternative option for proposed realignment were considered that directed the transmission line to the east
of mining infrastructure". This route would place the line at lower topography, decreasing risk of soil erosion, significantly less destruction of native vegetation and higher chance of successful regeneration of ground cover due to more favourable conditions.
As a resident of Lue, on my behalf Lue Action Group will submit a detailed submission addressing the amendment ,appendix 1 and2.
Bowdens Silver have stated to the community that the project would be on a smaller scale than earlier plans.
Yet there was no change in size of pit, waste rock, ore body or production.
On the 5/8/2021 they made a ASX announcement stating they had commenced scoping studies for an underground
mine. This would further impact the community and environment.

Bowdens Silver state this project is an environmentally sustainable development This project does not fit the
definition. Environmental sustainability "is the responsibility to conserve natural resources and protect
global ecosystems to support health and wellbeing now and in the future. So many decisions that impact the environment are not felt immediately".
The amendment and the appendix 1 and 2 are not structured clearly. It is is difficult to compare the EIS.
Response to Submissions, appendix 1 and 2.The appendices are not listed in the table of contents. This caused confusion in the community as they were unsure if they were able to make comment on Appendix 1 and2.

Yours sincerely ..... Lyn Coombe

I live at Havilah which is approximately 6km west of the proposed realignment of the 500kV power line. I strongly object as I will be able to see these enormous towers from my house. They will also be clearly visible to all properties on Cox Street to the north in Lue and to all the houses on acreages to the west of the village. They will be seen from the Lue Road. This enormous power line will dominate the Lue landscape and become what defines our community. They are ugly and will ruin our rural community.
I am worried about the increased traffic on Lue Road. It is busy and dangerous already. The realignment will involve many more vehicle movements, some of them large trucks, on Lue Road and also I'm concerned the effect that much of the increase in traffic will go through the village of Lue. Not only will the residents have to cope with extra traffic and a spoilt view from their homes they will also be affected by the noise from these enormous power lines. This realignment shows no regard for the residents of Lue especially those on acreage to the west of Lue, many of whom chose to live there because of the attractive rural views.

The route suggested is elevated, the soil on the ridge line is poor and shallow and sensitive to erosion. The amendment suggests that the clearing will be revegetated with suitable ground cover, the nature of the soil will make that difficult if not impossible.
The line requires clearing of 12.6ha of native vegetation, of which 6.52 ha is a Threatened Ecological Community, Box Gum Woodland. Hollow bearing trees will be destroyed. These trees are habitat for Barking Owls, Great Broad Nosed Bats and Koalas that live in this area. Greater study should be carried out on the effect such a clearing will have on these animals.
In the amendment document, it says "the exact location of the realignment would be determined by Transgrid after three stages of investigation" and that "whilst detailed staged investigation would not commence until commencement of the project". This is not acceptable. I believe the exact location should be known now before a decision is made on the amendment.
The Aboriginal Community has not agreed to any of the recommendations or conclusions drawn by the Aboriginal and Historic Heritage Assessment Report and the Rock Shelter with Hand stencils have not been located yet and they must be found. I am concerned that clearing could destroy precious Aboriginal heritage sites.
During construction, I am concerned about the increase in traffic and noise in Lue and on Lue Road. This is not acceptable as it will go for up to 10 months, six days a week. Lue will become unbearable.
As a landowner and resident I am concerned what affect the prospect of a Silver Mine is having on our community. Lue is changing already. The threat of a mine creates uncertainty - people are unsure and therefore reluctant to invest in their properties. People leave the community and others think about it. Bowdens has acquired properties, people have moved out. Now we will see power lines from the village. This is yet another blow for the community.

We oppose the project. Please see attachment.

To Major Projects
Objection to Bowdens Silver mine SSD 5765
I object strongly to this proposed development. There is a lack of transparency about the real intent of this project which seems to be misnamed as a silver project when it is really more about lead mining.
The water and air pollution associated with this proposal have not been properly assessed. This is especially critical as local waterways adversely affected by any failure of the tailings dam supply a major regional town i.e. Mudgee. Mitigation of potential impacts is inadequate.
New mines and other landuse activity that increase demand for water have devastating cumulative impacts on the future provision of clean drinking water to regional communities.
Of further concern is the lack of attention to predicted water shortages identified with the most current NSW climate modelling data which has not been incorporated into the supporting documents for the proposal. The most current data should always be used as part of the environmental planning and assessment process.
All development proposals are required to be considered against the principles of ecologically sustainable development and these principles underpin both water and planning laws in NSW.
This development proposal is not sustainable and will have long term environmental impacts that have not been properly assessed.
It is unclear why a significant amendment to the original proposal, the realignment of a 500kv power line was not included in the original Part 4 application. This is a significant and ?maybe deliberate oversight to the initial supporting documents last year. The amendment creates significant visual amenity impacts that should have been considered as part of the previous environmental assessment process. It will have environmental impacts associated with maintenance of the power line.
Yours sincerely

I strongly object to this proposed silver mine at Lue as submitted by myself on 22nd July 2020 and I further object to the placement of the high voltage power line for this proposal closer to Lue . Objections outlined in attachment. Jane Roberts

I object to the amendments that Bowdens Silver Mine is proposing to move high transmission power lines closer to Lue Village in order to operate the proposed silver mine.
I live in the village of Lue and one of the many attractions to living in Lue is the peacefulness of the village. The 60 meter high towers will create require significant noise and disruption when being built. Along with this the destructive impact to the native flora and fauna through significant land clearing to build the power lines will damage and threaten species. This area is home to many birds and mammals. Clearing land removes habitats, leading to the loss of native animals and plants.
From my property I appreciate being able to see trees and hills I do not want to view huge power lines. In the amendment proposition the power lines will be highly visible from the village. Lue is a beautiful farming area and not an industrial zone. The Bowdens silver project is dangerous to the health and wellbeing of residents of Lue and to our environment, water and native animals.
Overall I completely object to Boweden's Silver Mine and to these amendments. This mine should not proceed.

I object to the project. See my attached submission.

The proposed development of Bowdens Silver mine is too close to the village of Lue. Pollution from noise and dust (that will include lead contamination) for the residents within a 10m Km radius from the mine will be unacceptable.

One component of the mine is to establish a 58 km water corridor from Moolarben Coal mine at Ulan to Lue. Not only will this pipeline transfer water from an eastern catchment to a western catchment the potential to destroy acres of land in the construction process and leaking pipes is unacceptable.

An amendment to the original proposal for the mine is to move the 500 KVa power line closer to the Lue village. The power line will become more viseable from the road in an area that prides its self on the natural beauty and a flourishing tourism industry.

For these reasons I strongly oppose the development of any mine in the Lue area

Thank you for the opportunity to submit an application on the amendment to the Bowdens Silver Mine EIS in relation to the movement/construction of the 500 kV power transmission lines.
I Lee Patsky am opposed to the application inline with my previous objections submitted for the broader project and its EIS.
Specifically, for the power line movement/construction my objection is due to:

• Visual pollution and the impact to the Lue village/surrounding area
• Environmental impact of the easement required to accommodate the lines.
• Increased traffic throughout the village and its surrounds due to construction plus the associated noise
• Long hours for construction and 6 days per week

Regards,
Lee Patsky

Thank you for the opportunity to make a short submission objecting to this project as a whole and now to the 500kv power line that is proposed to run around the mine pit now instead of through it. We love visiting family who live in the area and are saddened to hear about the mine being proposed so close to the rural village of Lue. I know my family are very concerned about the detrimental health aspects of the mine to Lue and surrounds, especially for the children; being exposed to dust and pollutants is scientifically proven to be detrimental to health.
The visual impact of tall power lines along the ridge that will be seen from Lue will spoil the amenity of this beautiful area, spoiling the tranquillity and that most cherished of Australian values, the serenity! I hope the DPIE visits the area and appreciates the rural community and the farms and businesses that will be affected by the silver/lead mine and the ongoing issues long after the life of the mine.

I object to the moving of power lines. On the basis of destruction of native flora & fauna and the negative impact on the settlement of Lue.