Locals disappointed after mining project given approval

The Bowdens Silver Project in central western NSW was given the go-ahead despite more than 1000 letters of opposition.

The site is located two kilometres from the village of Lue, east of Mudgee. It will operate from construction through to rehabilitation in 2046, mining two million tonnes of silver, lead and zinc each year.

Susannah White, a local beef and cattle farmer, spoke on behalf of the 300 member Lue Action Group during public forums last month, and said she felt the community had not been heard.

Her business relies on water from the Lawson Creek, which will be used by the Bowdens mine.

"We are very worried about water quality and quantity impacts of the mine, should it go ahead," Ms White told AAP.

"We're obviously very disappointed with the decision of the Independent Planning Commission."

"We put together several submissions to the commission, which included some really detailed work from numerous experts across the areas of lead impacts, human and animal health, groundwater, surface water, dust and social impacts," she said.

"We really feel like the majority of our concerns have been largely ignored."

About 80 per cent of those who spoke at the hearings were against the project, she said.

Before approval was granted, the state's planning commission visited the site, held three public hearings, and took 1900 written submissions.

More than half of the submissions opposed the mine, while the remainder, just over 900 were in support.

The approval was granted on a series of conditions, including that locals can access regular blood tests for lead, and the air is monitored for lead dust.

The decision was an important milestone for Bowdens Silver and the community, Managing Director of Bowdens Silver Anthony McClure said.

"It has been a long and thorough process and we have invested significant time and resources to ensure we get the right outcome for the project and for the local community," he said.

"Our team has delivered a technically reliable and environmentally responsible project," he said, adding the company would continue its community engagement throughout the construction and engineering phase.

The project would create more than 300 jobs during construction, and another 228 jobs through mining operations, boosting local businesses and suppliers, Mr McClure said.

Greens MP Sue Higginson described the NSW planning system as "broken".

"It pits mining giants against communities on a far from level playing field," she said.

She called on newly-sworn in NSW planning minister Paul Scully to travel to Lue and review the decision.

A spokesman for the NSW government said it supported the commission's independence, adding that blood monitoring of residents was found not to be necessary, but would be offered.

Under settings put in place by the former coalition government, the decision was referred to public hearings, removing the community's rights to appeal the decision through the Land and Environment Court.

"The community has nowhere to go to test and challenge these findings," Ms Higginson said.

"We desperately need to reform the system to give communities a real voice in critical decisions that put them at risk."

Australian Associated Press