I object to the Bowdens Silver Pty Limited application for development consent to develop a mine approximately 2 kms north east of Lue.
I object to the relocation of 500kV Transmission Line, whether it be 500m from the open cut pit or 300m from the open cut pit as amended. I object to this amendment on visual, excessive noise and increased traffic grounds and the fact that the massive 60m towers will be pulled down and wasted.
The Bowdens responses to Submissions to the EIS and the Transmission Line amendment are vague and in many cases inaccurate. They openly discriminate against perceived less intelligent submitters, they have made racist and discriminatory comments, they avoid answering questions and prefer to correct typos and other minor mistakes rather than tackling the submitter’s query. They allowed their own chairman to make 2 submissions, they collected submissions from passers by who had no real interest in the merits of the projectand their CEO lied about where he lived.
Although I strongly object to the construction of a pipeline to the Ulan coalfields the removal of this pipeline leaves the project with no external water supply. Many of the reports in the EIS are based on the project having an external water source and not all these reports have been updated or amended so the Department or anyone else cannot possibly make an assessment based on out of date reports and reviews.
The available surface water and groundwater at Lue and north of Lue will not be reliable. This project must have a reliable water source in order to process ore and for dust suppression. Without an external water source this project will not be financially viable. There is no evidence that Bowdens have the required water licences to pump ground water and even if they do have water licences, this water is not reliable and often cannot be pumped. It is likely that if the ground water is available to Bowdens it will be at the expense of other water users. There is a high risk that surface and/or ground water will be adversely effected by the project by reduced capacity and contamination. The dewatering of the mine pit will take water at a rate far greater than has ever been experienced in this area and with many bores, and the creek being not as deep as the Bowdens bores the creek will dry up as will surrounding bores up to a distance of at least 5 kms. Is it a local government or state government responsibility to ensure that residents have domestic and stock water? As a neighbouring landowner this is a serious concern and has not been adequately addressed.
The amended mine site is immediately adjacent to the Hawkins – Rumker area which was recently refused consent to be released for exploration.
The new power supply will be constructed through the extremely sensitive Hawkins – Rumker area with substantial opposition from effected landowners.
The amended mine site is in close proximity to the recently refused Kepco Coal Mine project.
The Bowdens Project has significant commercial, logistical and social constraints which mean there is a low probability of it being successful.
It would be reckless of the Department of Planning and Environment to assess and recommend this project to the Independent Planning Commission.

Concern with regard to the depth of excavation lowering the ground water table impacting existing bores, noise and vibration impacting amenity of local residents, increased heavy vehicle traffic damaging the Lue Rd surface and impact upon Koala habitat

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I am writing to voice my opposition to this latest iteration of this deeply flawed proposal.

They have always struggled to find the water required to give this lead mine any potential to be viable.

Now, suddenly, they are able to find the water they need in-situ! How remarkable. Why the plan with the waste water from the Ulan mines if it was here all along? Apart from other shortcomings, their flawed modeling conveniently leaves out the low rainfall 2019, when we were in drought.

How will they make the mine operational in dry years? What will happen downstream in drought? Climate modeling shows times of drought will get more frequent and more severe. This is a semi arid area. There is simply not enough water for a mine.

And any water they use will have massive impacts on removal of downstream flows, the water table and the habitats for human, plant and animal, that rely on this precious and scarce water resource.

Please reject this non-viable proposal for good. They can not find the water they need. They will not acknowledge or address the issue of Acid Mine Drainage (from the Tailings Dam). There is too much willfully ignored in their proposal and amendments to let this go ahead. It will be the taxpayers and future generations that will have to deal with the cleanup and the destructive legacy if this were to be approved. This mine will release great levels of toxicity and risk local and downstream life for generations.

Save the beautiful township and people of Lue. Save the land and keep it life sustaining for those local and downstream. Keep the area a location people love to visit. This mine cannot go ahead. Please stop it now!

I support this modification due to the reduction in potential environmental impact associated with no longer requiring a pipeline and water supply from offsite. I support the reuse of mine water as opposed to using freshwater for processing, therefore conserving a valuable resource. Further to this, support of a new extractive industry will diversify employment within region and support a move to renewables. Silver is key resource for a successful move to renewable economy.