Silver Mines planning next steps for NSW development application
ASX-listed Silver Mines said on Tuesday it was navigating the complexities of legal proceedings surrounding its Bowdens silver project in New South Wales, following an August ruling from the NSW Supreme Court of Appeal.
The court upheld an appeal by the Bingman Catchment Landcare Group, which effectively nullified the development consent previously granted by the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) in April last year.
The appeal, initiated by Bingman, challenged the IPC’s administrative processes, particularly regarding whether the commission adequately considered the environmental impacts of a potential transmission line needed to power the project. Although the Land and Environment Court initially dismissed Bingman’s claims, the Court of Appeal's decision had prompted Silver Mines to reassess its strategic options.
In a statement on Tuesday, Silver Mines confirmed that legal advice indicated its development application remained "alive and on foot”, meaning it had not been conclusively resolved by the IPC. This finding, the company said, was significant because NSW planning laws permitted applicants to amend their development application prior to final determination, with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure's (DPHI’s) agreement.
The company was working with the DPHI to explore pathways for reinstating the development consent, specifically addressing the court's concerns regarding the assessment of the transmission line. This approach might involve preparing and submitting a new development application that included various power supply options.
A feasibility study for the Bowdens project indicated the potential to produce an average of 3.4-million ounces a year of silver, along with significant quantities of zinc and lead. In its initial years, the project could yield up to 5.4-million ounces of silver a year, while also creating more than 320 jobs during construction and more than 220 ongoing jobs thereafter.
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