Arabic version: منجم بودينز للفضة يواجه مراجعة تخطيطية جديدة

According to ABC News, the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) will reassess the proposed Bowdens Silver mine near Lue, close to Mudgee in Central West NSW, after its previous approval was overturned by the NSW Supreme Court of Appeal in 2024.

Silver Mines Limited wants approval to extract up to 30 million tonnes of silver, lead and zinc over 23 years. The earlier approval was set aside after judges found that impacts from a 13-kilometre transmission line had not been properly assessed. That line is now being assessed separately following a determination by the NSW Planning Secretary in May 2025.

A new three-person IPC panel has been appointed to consider the unamended proposal. The commission said the previous decision would have no influence on the new assessment and that the new panel would assess the entire application on its merits. The NSW Department of Planning referred the project to the IPC and has recommended approval.

Public hearings are scheduled at Mudgee Showground on October 14 and 15, while written submissions will remain open until October 23. The IPC said it would also consider submissions made to the commission in 2022 and 2023.

Lue resident Susannah White of the Bingman Catchment Landcare Group said residents remained concerned about potential health, tourism and agricultural effects. Silver Mines managing director Jo Battershill said the company took health concerns seriously and said assessments and reviews found the project was not expected to cause adverse human-health impacts, including from lead exposure. He said the mine would provide more than 300 direct full-time jobs over its lifespan.