Cowal Gold Operations Open Pit Continuation

Great for the town and so many opportunities for the community.

Based on community feedback I recommend that the project requires some conditions applied.
Please see attached submission.

Inland Rivers Network objects to the extension of open cut mining in the bed of Lake Cowal because of irreplaceable environmnetal harm of a nationally significant wetland area. Submission attached.

The Moora Moora Water Users Association bore provides Stock and Domestic Water to 10 Landholders across approximately 15,500 Ha of Land west of the Evolution Bore sites.
We are concerned that the longer extraction of extra water from the bore field will effect the water security of the landholders who farms will be here long after mine has finished.
We would like to see Lachlan River Water or Salty Bore water used over high extraction for a small area in the Bland Palio Channel Bore fields.

The East Trigalana Water Users Group Inc bore provides Stock and Domestic water to ten landholder members representing approximately 21,000 hectares of agricultural land.

We are concerned with the long-term impacts of the extra take water from the Bland Paleochannel bore field and the repercussions this has on the water security for our members as a result of this continuation project.

We would like the Lachlan River surface water and Eastern Saline Bore Field be a priority as apposed to the Bland Paliochannel ground water for use in the mine.

The Trigalana Water Users Group Inc bore provides Stock and Domestic water to eleven landholder members representing approximately 15,000 hectares of agricultural land.

We are concerned with the long-term impacts of the extra take water from the Bland Paleochannel bore field and the repercussions this has on the water security for our members as a result of this continuation project.

We would like the Lachlan River surface water and Eastern Saline Bore Field be a priority as apposed to the Bland Paliochannel ground water for use in the mine.

The West Plains Water Users Association bore provides Stock & Domestic water to nine landholding members representing approximately 9200 hectares of agricultural land.

Our bore is situated 700 meters from BCPC Bore GW701659/1.

We are concerned with the long term impacts of the extra take water from the Bland Paleochannel bore field and the repercussions this has on the water security for our members as a result of this continuation project.

We would like the Lachlan River surface water and the Eastern Saline Bore Field water be a priority as apposed to the Bland Paleochannel ground water for use in the mine.

As a landholder of land neighbouring Evolution Cowal Mine we would like further information and investigation on a number of aspects not fully addressed in the EIS.

1/ We are concerned with the impacts on our farming land within the lakebed from the increase in the mine bund. The increased land area that will be encompassed and the amount of water that will be displaced as a result. As a property owner that has land that will be impacted by the water displacement especially in the drying and filling cycle and movement of water by wind. (There has been no modelling of the effects of wind action on the water body within the lakebed in this EIS)
Any of these events will cause water to remain or flow onto areas that will historically not be there in those situations thus impacting our business and its cropping & grazing productivity.

2/ The Ground Water – we are concerned of the impact to the Bland Paleo Channel with the increased life of the mine.
As a water user that relies on the Bland Paleo Channel water for both stock and domestic as well as an irrigation bore, we are concerned on the mine’s reliance on this source of water. We are worried that our irrigation bore, which is located between BCPB Bore GW701660/1 & Bore GW701659/1 will be impacted especially in times of drought when we become extremely reliant on the bore water to grow fodder and water livestock. Our bore has not been acknowledged in the EIS, as being impacted by the mine bores, considering its proximity.
We would like the use of Lachlan River surface water and the Eastern Saline Bore Field water to be a priority as apposed to the Bland Paleo Channel Ground Water to be used on the mine.

3/ On our land we have a large area of vegetation that provides a substantial bird breeding colony of a number of water bird species, we are concerned of the impacts on these breeding colonies as a result of the proposed changes.

4/ Feral Animals – we have observed an increase in the number of feral animals especially wild pigs in the lakebed, we would like to know what control measure Evolution intends to use to help mitigate this issue. Feral pigs pose a considerable threat to bird breeding habitat in the lakebed.

5/ Bush Fire Plan – we are concerned that the revegetation and offset areas on Evolution Land pose a considerable risk by fire to the lakebed and neighbouring properties if not managed properly, we like to know the management policy to reduce the bush fire risk and control measures. A bushfire poses a significant risk in destroying vulnerable bird breeding habitats in the lakebed as this has occurred in the past.

Please refer to the attached submission for our comments.

My name is Matthew Dent and together with my wife Ashleigh, we attended the meeting in West Wyalong earlier in the year regarding the extension of the Bund around Evolution Gold Mine. My Uncle and Aunt, Bruce and Angela Dent sent their apologies for not attending as Bruce was receiving treatment for Cancer at the time.
We have received the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and we all agree that a response was necessary.
The presenter, I am unsure of his name, spoke well about the impact this bund WOULD NOT have on the landowners on the eastern side of Lake Cowal. This is all well and good until you have lived through a major flood and your livelihood is impacted like ours has been. This means an increase of any size will be rather substantial for us. As the presenter mentioned, this increase of 15mm is going to push water further onto higher ground. Once the lakebed goes under, we need the security of that higher ground for as long as possible to lessen the impact to livestock safety and the loss that can occur.
This extension means that our houses on the eastern side of Lake Cowal are going to be impacted even more than during the last flood. Potentially sending water through these houses with which the loss could possibly be fatal, especially for the older residents like Bruce and Angela who have lived through many floods with water surrounding their home and the only mode of transport being a tin boat. I am sure you understand the risk associated with this type of transport for a couple in their 70’s. During the 2022 flood the water went underneath Bruce and Angela’s home and into Bill and Julie Low’s home, making it unsanitary and impossible to live in due to the smell, loose materials and animal carcasses floating around and access completely cut, meaning boating in and out would have been the only means again and it was not practical or safe at Bruce and Angela’s age this time around.
We predominantly receive South Westerly Winds on the Eastern side of the lake and if this water is raised another 15mm, taking into consideration the wave action on a windy day, the damage will be outrageous. These waves are immeasurable, but you wouldn’t believe the size of some of these waves, and this is without the extra 15mm on top. We lost very well-structured fences and sheds during the 22’ flood, some that have been standing for the best part of 50 years.
After many discussions about the EIS, We feel like the calculation of a 1.7% volume increase is inaccurate as the EIS only states the water in Lake Cowal itself and doesn’t include the total area of Lake Cowal, Nerang Cowal and their feeder creeks. Bruce has done some calculations and if you had time, we would appreciate having another meeting to discuss these figures with you.
Another point that we feel wasn’t well addressed during the meeting is the lake and creek water meeting the Lachlan River water, that hits from the north. We know that this isn’t in the mines interest, but it is inevitably going to push water even further up onto dry ground if there is even the slightest increase in water volume caused by this bund extension.
Bill and Julie Low agree with us, that if the mine is to go ahead with raising this bund, then compensation or an acquisition of land needs to be put into place by Evolution for the Eastern Land holders of Lake Cowal. We need security put in place to cover what will be lost due to this bund increase and water spread. When all is said and done, mining was meant to have ceased by 2015 but the mine is still digging new pits and doing exploration in the lakebed. We are concerned that these increases will continue over the years making farming on the eastern side of the lake more complex and uncertain than before. We all agree that by acquiring the land, the mine will be at ease to change what is needed without impacting families and their ability to make a living.
Regards,
Matthew Dent, Ashleigh Dent, Bruce Dent, Angela Dent, Bill Low and Julie Low.

I support the submission for Cowal Gold Operation Open Pit Continuation project.
Evolution Mining and Cowal Gold Mine operate a responsible, sustainable mine in an environmentally sensitive location. They do so proactively, with all decisions and plans taking into account the surrounding ecosystems and the needs of the local communities living in the region.
Cowal Gold Mine is also a major provider or employment across the region, servicing the surrounding communities of Forbes, Condobolin and West Wyalong, as well as many smaller communities in and around the mine. Additionally, many local businesses from these centres, as well as further afield, rely on the operation of the mine for their continued growth and operation.
While the mine can continue to function without the open pit continuation, greater ore processing efficiencies will be achieved with the approval of the open pit expansion.

The Open Pit Continuation Project will provide ongoing benefits to the immediate local economy as we as the NSW & Federal economic outlook. Evolution in the previous 12 to 18 months has been developing an Underground Mine to operate in conjunction with the existing Pit at considerable cost. This aspect will add to the Cowal Operations output which will add to the longer term viability of the Evolution company in general, but locally will ensure that the operation will continue to provide direct employment + indirect employment through local spend with local suppliers in the Bland, Forbes & Lachlan Shires plus a broader spend throughout NSW. The existing Pit will in the course of the next few years become constricted in its ability to continue without development to the Pit, which is were the OPC is critical to the Operation remaining as a strong viable & secure employer.
The extensive & long term research that has been carried out by Evolution has also identified not just the regulatory environmental, social & economic impacts but also the benefits, so a balanced submission should be expected.

Good idea

Scope of the Project and Potential Impact on Wetlands and Surrounds
This project relates to a significant expansion [in spatial extent, cumulative volume of production, and total duration] of the existing Cowal Gold Operations. In particular, the expansion project, if approved, would extend the surface open pit mining operations further into the bed of the nationally significant ephemeral wetland system of Lake Cowal, and will impose even greater risk than present operations of contamination of these and Mitigation Measures
Noting the importance of wetlands to both biodiversity and the overall health of the environment and the societies that depend on good, clean water, it is therefore important to question the mitigation measures as set out in Appendix D:

For example:
• The WMP will be reviewed and updated following Project approval in response to the outcomes of the surface water assessment and any additional related approval requirements. Is this work to be taken on trust, only to happen after approval?
• There is much about monitoring but precious little about any remediation or action if the monitoring establishes that there are problems. There is also little said about who monitors, when and to whom it is reported. There is also no reference to how this is to be verified.
• While Appendix D recognises that there will be an expanded lake protection bund and that there is a “risk to lake water quality” during the construction phase, that there will be a “silt curtain” put in place and that monitoring will continue, we are told that a “CEMP will be prepared as part of the detailed design of the expanded LPB, detailing construction activities, testing frequency, environmental management, monitoring and contingencies. The CEMP will include a trigger action response plan for assessing water quality, including contingency measures, such as changes to water treatment.”, I am concerned that once again this is contingent on acceptance of the proposal and not prepared prior to such acceptance.
• It is proposed that “Water quality monitoring will continue for a minimum of two years following cessation of mining and processing operations with monitoring data reviewed at annual intervals (as part of the annual review process) over this period in accordance with the Rehabilitation Management Plan”. Noting that the impact of mining operations often exceeds this timeframe, I object and request that there be a much more serious, binding commitment to post-mining operation rehabilitation.
As well as being concerned with biodiversity conservation and protection of key breeding habitats such as wetlands, I have a direct interest in the integrity of the national parks and other protected areas within the Lachlan River system downstream of the project, including those on its distributaries. Examples include Lachlan, Kalyarr and Willandra national parks. In the event of an uncontained contamination incident, the environment of such reserves is at risk, as well as wetlands and riparian ecosystems along the river downstream of the mine. The risk of occurrence might well be "low", but the consequences and severity of impact(s) might be highly significant.
I remain opposed in principle to mining in close proximity to sensitive wetlands, and do not support the expansion, noting how theoretical are the proposed safeguards.
I am not persuaded that the mitigation measures outlined in the environmental impact statement are sufficient to reduce the risk of damaging incidents impacting the wetland and riparian ecosystems of Lake Cowal, or downstream. The environment, human health, cultural values, and economic activity downstream would bear the consequences if there was any failure of mitigation measures at the mine. For terrestrial biodiversity conservation, the project is far too reliant on discredited biodiversity offsets mechanisms.
Contingency measures need to be expanded to outline not just on-the-fly modifications to the project, but a commitment to credible measures for remediation of the environmental and/or cultural values impacted by unforeseen or poorly-predicted impacts, wherever these impacts may have occurred. The EIS also does not outline in any clarity a credible plan for long-term ownership and management responsibility [including ongoing erosion, weed & pest animal control] after the conclusion of operations.
The assessment process to date demonstrates completely inadequate community consultation [and social impact assessment] about the proposal. Many communities and wetlands along the Lachlan are potentially affected if there is were to be a failure of the various mitigation measures proposed and it would appear those downstream communities have not been consulted. Likewise peak NSW conservation organisations were not engaged, and even local groups affiliated with them were not consulted. The so-called engagement appears to have assumed from the outset that "the community" was comprised solely of Condobolin, Forbes and West Wyalong [none of whom would be downstream of a water pollution incident. Communities such as Lake Cargelligo and Hillston, and the many others downstream of the project, should have been front and centre in the community engagement from the earliest stages. Even peak organisations like NSW Farmers appear not to have been engaged in the process prior to release of the environmental impact statement.
Brian Everingham

I support this project. Evolution Cowal has an outstanding positive environmental record. I see no reason that this project would be any different. In addition this project will add considerable mine life to the operation. Cowal gold operations contributes significant opportunities for well paying local employment that supports several towns.

The OPC for the Cowal open pit will provide many families around the region with jobs and ongoing income for many years. I believe it is a crucial part of the regional economy