Bowdens Silver

My name is David Chandler and I wish to lodge an objection to the Bowdens Project number 9641 which has lodged an environmental impact statement with you. I have been a resident at the above address for approximately 40 years.
The proposed mine will expose the community to lead and it will have a deleterious effect on water in the area.
There is no safe level of lead for children and this mine is located approximately 2 km from the Lue school and township. The risk to the township and nearby rural properties is unacceptable, drinking water is collected from roofs and lead containing dust will contaminate other surfaces leading to increased lead ingestion. This is a high wind velocity area and I do not believe dust mitigation by the proposed mine would stop this contamination. This type of mine should be located far from populated areas. It is immoral to allow this type of development which would lead to people leaving the area. Local families would be mad to send there children to a school that is next to a lead mine. The processing plant will be onsite and not only would it produce noise pollution 24 hours a day seven days a week but it would use toxic chemicals, including cyanide. All toxic by-products are planned to be stored on site indefinitely.
The open cut nature of the mine would expose large amounts of sulphides which on exposure to air and water can convert to sulphuric acid. There would be a tailings dam and hills of overburden as well as a large pit gradually filling with water. These three areas will be loaded with toxic chemicals and I consider there is a high risk of failure where the toxins would be released into the waterways. There have been recent failures of tailings dams run by experienced miners, this applicant has never developed a mine fully and would be expected to sell on the development most likely to an overseas company with little regard for our environment, their lack of experience and the uncertainty of who would be running this highly dangerous and toxic project is another reason for it not to receive approval.
The proposal is for the mine to use collected ground water, subterranean water and dirty water piped from Ulan mine. The proposal concerning water uses extensive jargon and quotes opinions that seem very risky. It is agreed that this project would result in lowering of the water table, this alone is unfair to local farmers who have been dependent on this water. The open cut will cut across water tables and steal water from other users, there is also the risk of contamination of the water. Also whatever impurities are in the dirty water from the Ulan mine will stay on the Bowdens site forever or until it leaks out.
I have a lot more objections to this mine and would be prepared to expand on this objection if necessary.
This proposal is immoral and shortsighted the toxic chemicals and damage to the environment would be permanent and gives no consideration to future generations.

-