MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: 11th May, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kingsgate drilling program slowed by authorities’ site inspection
An inspection of exploratory drilling sites at the proposed Kingsgate-Bowdens silver-lead mine near Lue village out of Mudgee has meant some site work has been halted due to failure to adhere to basic environmental protections.
Concerns by local residents over breaches of the conditions of the exploration licence were raised with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Trade & Investment, Resources & Energy. These concerns related to both excessive dust being expelled from drilling operations, and failure to properly protect the local Blackman’s Gully watercourse.
Brett and Colleen Farrow were amongst local residents raising concerns with authorities. They were taking a Sunday walk down Maloney’s Road with their dogs when they came upon a number of drill sites within Blackman’s Gully. “We were horrified to see evidence of machinery tracks and earthworks across the waterway, and the total lack of silt fences to protect runoff from the excavated drill pad sites and drainage sumps. We could see no attempt to keep contaminated water or silt from flowing into local creeks.” Brett returned to take photos to pass onto the authorities.
A site inspection was undertaken by representatives of the EPA, the Department of Trade & Investment, Resources & Energy, and Mid-Western Regional Council on the 3rd of May. A representative of the Department has told local residents that as a consequence of the inspection Kingsgate have been instructed not to conduct any more site works within 40m of a watercourse until they have submitted a Direct Erosion Plan for the entire work area and received approval.
This failure to adhere to basic environmental protections at the exploratory stage heightens fears amongst concerned locals as to the outcome should a mining license be issued to Kingsgate. This breach follows the pattern of mines in the region, with a recent audit revealing that Moolarben Mine north of Mudgee has breached its exploratory license conditions on four occasions, and has been fined over major pollution incidents from its mining operations.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Graeme Gardiner: Phone 63736371 or 0428 757369
Brett Farrow: Phone 63736396 or 0458 562170
NOTES
While the EPA participated with great interest in the site inspection, they have only an advisory, rather than regulatory role, when a project is at the exploration license stage. The Dept of Trade & Investment, Resources & Energy are responsible for monitoring and regulating the conditions of the exploration license. Our contact has been with Sarah Pollack from the Environmental Sustainability Unit Regional Central West Office of the Department (Orange: 6360 5333).
The Lue Action Group (L.Ag) is a subcommittee of Bingman Landcare Group to support the community through researching the issues related to this proposal, and to advocate on the community’s behalf.
Kingsgate Bowdens Pty Ltd purchased the exploration rights for this potential mine in late 2011, and are seeking to obtain approvals for development in 2012 with large-scale site works proposed to commence in early 2013. The mine site is located less than three kilometres from Lue village and school. Plant and staff are currently conducting further significant exploratory drilling operations. This open-cut mine is proposed to be one square kilometre in area, and at least 200m deep, with the possibility of being extended beyond this area. Spoil areas, large tailings dams and the on-site processing mill and flotation plant will see the footprint of the mine significantly greater than the size of the actual pit. While it is a small yield of silver (in the order of 0.006% by volume of excavated material), 0.3% of lead will be yielded from the mine – from current technical data it is estimated at least 177,000 tonnes over the life of the mine – along with other heavy toxic substances.
For any further background information contact:
Graeme Gardiner, Media Officer, L.Ag, 6373 6371 or 0428 757369
DATE: 11th May, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kingsgate drilling program slowed by authorities’ site inspection
An inspection of exploratory drilling sites at the proposed Kingsgate-Bowdens silver-lead mine near Lue village out of Mudgee has meant some site work has been halted due to failure to adhere to basic environmental protections.
Concerns by local residents over breaches of the conditions of the exploration licence were raised with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Trade & Investment, Resources & Energy. These concerns related to both excessive dust being expelled from drilling operations, and failure to properly protect the local Blackman’s Gully watercourse.
Brett and Colleen Farrow were amongst local residents raising concerns with authorities. They were taking a Sunday walk down Maloney’s Road with their dogs when they came upon a number of drill sites within Blackman’s Gully. “We were horrified to see evidence of machinery tracks and earthworks across the waterway, and the total lack of silt fences to protect runoff from the excavated drill pad sites and drainage sumps. We could see no attempt to keep contaminated water or silt from flowing into local creeks.” Brett returned to take photos to pass onto the authorities.
A site inspection was undertaken by representatives of the EPA, the Department of Trade & Investment, Resources & Energy, and Mid-Western Regional Council on the 3rd of May. A representative of the Department has told local residents that as a consequence of the inspection Kingsgate have been instructed not to conduct any more site works within 40m of a watercourse until they have submitted a Direct Erosion Plan for the entire work area and received approval.
This failure to adhere to basic environmental protections at the exploratory stage heightens fears amongst concerned locals as to the outcome should a mining license be issued to Kingsgate. This breach follows the pattern of mines in the region, with a recent audit revealing that Moolarben Mine north of Mudgee has breached its exploratory license conditions on four occasions, and has been fined over major pollution incidents from its mining operations.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Graeme Gardiner: Phone 63736371 or 0428 757369
Brett Farrow: Phone 63736396 or 0458 562170
NOTES
While the EPA participated with great interest in the site inspection, they have only an advisory, rather than regulatory role, when a project is at the exploration license stage. The Dept of Trade & Investment, Resources & Energy are responsible for monitoring and regulating the conditions of the exploration license. Our contact has been with Sarah Pollack from the Environmental Sustainability Unit Regional Central West Office of the Department (Orange: 6360 5333).
The Lue Action Group (L.Ag) is a subcommittee of Bingman Landcare Group to support the community through researching the issues related to this proposal, and to advocate on the community’s behalf.
Kingsgate Bowdens Pty Ltd purchased the exploration rights for this potential mine in late 2011, and are seeking to obtain approvals for development in 2012 with large-scale site works proposed to commence in early 2013. The mine site is located less than three kilometres from Lue village and school. Plant and staff are currently conducting further significant exploratory drilling operations. This open-cut mine is proposed to be one square kilometre in area, and at least 200m deep, with the possibility of being extended beyond this area. Spoil areas, large tailings dams and the on-site processing mill and flotation plant will see the footprint of the mine significantly greater than the size of the actual pit. While it is a small yield of silver (in the order of 0.006% by volume of excavated material), 0.3% of lead will be yielded from the mine – from current technical data it is estimated at least 177,000 tonnes over the life of the mine – along with other heavy toxic substances.
For any further background information contact:
Graeme Gardiner, Media Officer, L.Ag, 6373 6371 or 0428 757369
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