After the win in the NSW Court of Appeal (Bingman Catchment Landcare Group vs Bowdens Silver), the Court ruled that Bowdens Silver Mine failed to assess ‘an integral part of the mine’s operation’ – the transmission lines and stating  that: “an error cannot be excused because the respondent [Bowden’s] chose not to provide the necessary information for the impacts to be assessed'.

The NSW Government is now urgently trying to rush through an amendment to legislation to change the planning laws which not only undermine the court’s decision it could have wide-ranging ramifications for the NSW Planning system in the future.

Not only that – Bowdens Silver Mine could get “retrospective approval”, further undermining our planning and environmental laws

This will have devastating and long-lasting effects to our local community and the environment including clearing of Threatened Ecological Communities such as the Box Gum Grassy Woodlands (<5% left) and in a strong-hold population of Koalas and other Threatened Species such as Spot-tailed Quolls, Gang Gang Cockatoos, Powerful Owls plus many more.

The Planning Minister, Paul Scully MP, is trying to give himself power to pick and choose sections of state significant developments, like Bowdens, to be fast tracked through the system without proper environmental assessment.

We hear the government will try to rush these changes through sometime in the next few days. This is as dodgy as it sounds!!

Please put your name to the petition and share with your networks to help us protect this beautiful region and its special and unique wildlife.