NSW lead and silver mine would ‘destroy’ health ‘for the sake of a few jobs’, inquiry told

Jobs will be prioritised over children’s health if a proposed silver, zinc and lead mine is allowed to go ahead, an independent inquiry has been told.

The Independent Planning Commission of New South Wales is holding the second of three public hearings into the Bowdens Silver Project in the state’s Central West.

The planned mine would produce zinc, lead and silver at Lue, near Mudgee, over a proposed 23-year life span.

Retired GP Suzana Chandler lives within 2 kilometres of the site and has told the panel she has “major concerns”, particularly with the lead production.

“Where does the dust end up? On the roofs of our houses — we drink the water from there,” she said.

The lead dust released from the mine’s operations, Dr Chandler said, could settle on the surrounding rural environment and infiltrate the food system.

“[Lead could fall] on the vegetation on our property and our vegetable garden,” she said.

“We eat the vegetables and the food, our cows eat the grass, this means the meat might be rejected due to high lead content.

“We will all inhale it, it will settle in the ground and ultimately [enter] into the aquifers.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for the management of lead exposure state there is “no known safe level of lead in the human body.”

Dr Chandler said if the mine went ahead, the nearby Lue Public School should be closed to protect students.

“Are we so laissez-faire that for the sake of a few jobs we will destroy our beautiful countryside and our health?” she said.

The mine has already been recommended for approval by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, subject to strict conditions.

Tourism fears

Tourism industry professional Lucy White said she feared the mine would tarnish the Mudgee region’s reputation, but how much so was unclear as the application process had not investigated it.

“There’s absolutely no data, no facts, and no statistics,” she said.

“It’s a chronic oversight … I don’t see how a report can ignore an industry of this size, and nature and impact.”

Ms White said tourism is worth $200 million to the Mid-Western Regional Council area each year, and is directly responsibly for 931 jobs.

“Tourism is the golden goose for the Mudgee region,” she told the hearing, “let’s not cook that goose”.

‘Heavens help us’

Jamie Inglis told the panel his family farm was five kilometres downstream of the proposed mine.

He said a voluntary acquisition scheme needed to be set up for those in the area who were directly affected or found their land values declined.

But, he said, the entire project was dangerous and it would destroy Aboriginal artefacts, create toxic water, and harm koalas.

“The [state] government is asking the residents of Lue to sacrifice their wellbeing for the greater good,” Mr Inglis said.

“I have no confidence in them (the proponent) whatsoever,” he said.

“If Bowdens gets the go ahead, heavens help us.”

‘Categorically’ no risk: mine

Bowdens Silver director Anthony McClure told the ABC at the conclusion of Wednesday’s hearings that the lead mining was “obviously a very emotional issue locally”.

“But, from a technical point of view, there is no additional risk in the current environment with the work that we’re doing, categorically,” he said.

About 50 speakers are expected to appear at today’s proceedings.

Earlier today, Josh Mclean from the Mudgee Wombats Rugby Union Club acknowledged the strong views both for and against the mine.

He said the club had received sponsorship from the mine and hoped it could provide jobs as the local coal industry wound down.

“We hope that this process allows all to be heard and that our region continues to grow in strength, wisdom and opportunity,” he said.

Jobs not needed: environmentalist

Environmentalist Bev Smiles, who is a member of local coal mine community consultative committees, says there is no need for the employment the mine would provide.

“There are more vacancies at the coal mines in the region than the jobs at the proposed mine,” she said.

“Anyone with the skills to work at the mine already has a job.

“This project must be rejected on the basis of poor information … and [the] potential extent of irreversible environmental damage.”