Protecting Mudgee region from potential environmental and health disaster
Help stop the development of a risky open cut lead mine in a greenfield area, just two kilometres from the Lue Primary School, in the middle of the popular Mudgee-Rylstone tourist trail.
Bowdens Silver is trying to develop a toxic lead, zinc and silver mine at Lue.
Where are we up to?
The NSW Independent Planning Commission approved the Bowdens mine on Monday, 3 April 2023. In it's reasoning, it's clear the Planning Commission ignored concerns raised by us, by you, by our own Council and by close to 1000 others who objected to the project at the time.
The approval was challenged by concerned community members and landholders, and in August, 2024 the Supreme Court of NSW declared the approval invalid and of no effect (their words).
Partially in response to the court decision, the NSW Government changed the planning legislation and now Bowdens is seeking reinstatement of it’s approval in a way that would avoid public scrutiny of their updated proposal or any properly updated impact assessments.
This mine continues to be strongly opposed by the community. This community knows Bowdens won’t be able to suppress the lead dust it generates. This community values the thriving wine, agriculture and tourism industries that are here now. This community values not having to test the lead levels in the blood of its children.
Bowdens hasn’t given up, yet. We aren’t giving up, ever.
Why you should be concerned about the Bowdens project
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Threats to water security and water quality
If you live near the mine site, or anywhere along the Lawson Creek, there is a real risk you will have less water to use, and whatever water you do have could be contaminated.
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Dangerous lead exposure
Any exposure to lead is dangerous, and chronic exposure can lead to decreased IQ and cognitive function in children.
Bowdens plans to dig up and disturb 95,000 tonnes of lead at Lue, two kilometres from the primary school.
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Toxic tailings dam
Bowdens plans to build a large tailings dam across a fault line at the headwaters of the Lawson Creek, which flows into the Cudgegong River at Mudgee.
Holding poisonous materials like cyanide, arsenic and lead particles, Bowdens predicts 1.6mL of leakage every single day (best case scenario).
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Negative and permanent social & cultural impacts
Loss of property values. Destruction of community. Noise, vibration and traffic. Lead in dust and water supply.
These impacts are real.
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Acid mine drainage
More than half of all waste rock excavated (26 million tonnes) will be potentially acid forming. Bowdens wants to stack it above the Lawson Creek water table over 77 hectares, creating a major acid mine drainage risk.
Acid mine drainage can threaten drinking water supplies and irrigation systems downstream from a mining site.
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Increased traffic, dust and noise
Anyone who regularly uses the Lue Road and some Mudgee residents can expect a significant increase in noise and traffic, with material being trucked from the mine site on B-Doubles along the Lue Road and through Mudgee, six days per week. Not to mention daily construction and worker traffic.
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Biodiversity and ecological impacts
Bowdens wants to clear 457 hectares of land, including some Critically Endangered Ecological Communities like Box Grassy Woodland.
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The mine
In a completely greenfield area in the middle of the Mudgee-Rylstone tourist trail, Bowdens is trying to build three open cut pits across 52 hectares, and a huge tailings dam with a 56 metre high wall (that’s higher than the Colosseum).
It plans to leave a 53 hectare hole behind, forever.