McPhillamys Gold Project

I object to the mine proposal.

Currently, I visit my brother’s property regularly with my two children, both aged under 10. We stay in our caravan on his property when we visit.

Not only will this mine mean that we will be less likely to visit my brother and the area, but it may result in health problems for my family and children.

I have looked at the noise models and even with ‘mitigation’, it looks like it would be too uncomfortable for us to visit in our caravan. Not only will it be too loud to enjoy outdoor entertaining, it will be too loud at nighttime to sleep in our caravan. My children love visiting their uncle and aunty and being able to run around outside with our and their dogs, play on their bikes, kick balls and enjoy sitting together outside and talking. If this proposal is approved, that will simply not happen. It will be too loud to be outside and enjoy ourselves. There will be too much dust from the waste rock wall and will be too toxic to cleanly breathe whilst being outside. The night sky will be ruined by a constant glow and this will ruin what we currently enjoy.

Most of all, my brother and sister in law’s happiness will be taken from them. I have had countless conversations with both of my brother and sister in law about the proposal and what they’re going through in relation to it. They are constantly stressed, upset and angry thinking about the changes to their lifestyle this mine will bring. I have real concerns that if this proposal is approved, their mental health will deteriorate and their marriage will fall apart. This would then cause significant stress and anxiety concerns for my children who love and adore them both as they’ve been an important part of both of their lives since birth.

We love visiting our family but if this mine is approved, I don’t think we would visit any longer.

I object to this proposed mine for the following reasons:

The vast majority of Australia is in the grip of drought, claimed by some to be the most severe and widespread in recorded history. Most expert opinion is that, due to the now unavoidable climate change caused by global warming, such droughts are going to become the new normal. This will result in reduced rainfall, increased evaporation, and consequent scarcity of water for all purposes, including farming, on which we all depend for food production. Yet this project is seriously proposing to construct a tailings dam, full of potentially toxic sludge, on top of the headwaters of one of the few rivers in the country still in reasonable condition.
Tailings dams have been known to fail, with catastrophic consequences. Destroying this agricultural area for a 15 year project to extract gold at a concentration of perhaps 1.05gm/tonne, producing 60m+ tonnes of waste, and leaving a destroyed landscape and toxic legacy that will last forever just cannot be justified to produce a metal that will likely end up as jewellery, or be locked away as bullion. No doubt the financiers and engineers who are promoting and designing this project are highly skilled, but the risks posed by this project are way out of proportion with the benefit to be gained for the country as a whole.
Some towns in NSW are about to run out of water. It is morally problematic to say the least that water has been turned into a commodity in this country rather than an essential resource to which everybody has a right and human and animal interests are considered higher than the profits of organisations.
The use of cyanide to process the gold from ore and then pumped into the tailings dam. Cyanide has been banned in nine countries, Korea, Ecuador, Argentina, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Greece, Turkey, Germany and Hungary and some US states and poses a dangerous and toxic threat to the water and land in the region.
Inevitable contamination of the Belubula and Lachlan Rivers, due to seepage through groundwater flows from the tailings dam
Loss of natural land and environment for wildlife, and the impact of toxicity on surrounding farms
Permanent degradation of prime agricultural land and scenery
Loss of trees including high altitude yellow box that may be 200 years old
Impact on bee population due to loss of ground flora and contaminated water
Loss of the forest where the mine is proposed that is considered an ecologically endangered community as defined by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage
The whole project proposes less than 1000 short terms jobs. Other industries in this area, with support a more diversified and resilient economy including tourism, renewables and sustainable agriculture offer far more employment

We object to this project in its current form due the high risk gold separation processes proposed in the applicant's submission.

Agriculture and mining are both important contributors to our local economy.

Water is a scarce resource in our region and critical to sustain the community and industry.

We note that the proposed location of the tailings dam is at the headwaters of the Belubula River, a perennial river that is part of the Lachlan catchment and within the Murray-Darling basin. Given this location and related use of toxic chemicals such as cyanide in the gold separation processes, there is significant potential to cause substantial and unacceptable risks to the down stream natural environment, the quality and volume of water supplies. This is water that many communities in the local region rely on for both domestic and industry use.

A recent media report by the Federal Government announced a spend of $650m to upgrade the capacity of Wyangala Dam (in the same catchment) noting this investment was "critical for long-term water security". The applicant's proposal puts this taxpayer funded investment at serious risk given the tailings dam and outdated mining processes to be employed which will be upstream from Wyangala Dam.

We strongly request the NSW Department of Planning and Environment to not approve this proposal in its current form and request the applicant to explore and propose more modern non-toxic forms of gold separation processes that are less harmful to the river system and local towns, ecology and the environment.

Please protect our water.

Yours sincerely
James and Barbara Price

We are against the McPhillamys Gold Project on a number of issues.
Environmental pollution, Noise pollution, Dust pollution . The head of the Belubula River starts where this proposed mine will be, it will be detrimental for the ecology of the river and its environs for this mine to commence, we are landholders on the Mid Western Hwy at Kings Plains we are in very close proximity of this proposed mine, our livelihood is agriculture, lambs, cropping and wool, dust pollution and noise pollution will have a dramatic effect on our cropping and animals. Blayney township is 8 minutes away how can you build a mine so close to a Town ? We are a densely populated area, good agricultural land swallowed up by a mine !!! We are very concerned about our land devaluations and the effect this will have in years to come. We are also concerned about the roads and the impact all the extra traffic will have on them, one road in particular will be the Guyong Road this is the road we travel on numerous times a day it is the road you take from Orange that meets up with the MID Western HWY and bypasses Blayney, this will be the road that all the workers will take from Orange to the mine, the road is dangerous as is, no marked lines, narrow road, cars travel at a great speed and very sharp bends. There have been numerous times you have to come off the road onto the gravel as a car has come around the bend on your side of the road, there have been lots of near misses with numerous residents on this road. We have asked Blayney Shire Council to establish line marking but this has not occurred, the increased traffic will be dangerous and our local school bus travels this road with my 4 grandchildren on board. There have also been accidents which have gone unreported to the police, there has also been incidents with stock travelling the road and recently there were stock hit by a car which did not obey the stock signs ahead, numerous animals were killed or had to be euthanised.
There will be limited employment from Blayney to the mine, most will come from Bathurst and Orange and bypass Blayney altogether, only 10 percent have to be employed from Blayney if you read the fine print from Regis Resources, we also cannot see the benefit if any that will contribute to Blayney's economy. What will be purchased from Blayney that will contribute to the mine ? There are health issues as well from a mine that is so close to residents and a town, there is a very HIGH incidence of ASTHMA in our area, increased dust pollution and air quality will have a detrimental effect on people who suffer from Asthma as well as other lung conditions. Our weather is changing and we have increased amounts of high winds and dust already from the drought, the mine dust will be blowing onto our land causing issue with our crops and stock. There is already a mine near us which is Cadia, they are increasing their capacity to an extra $685 million, their Tailings Dam had an incident where a wall broke and tailings went into the soil and waterways causing huge environmental issues, we are concerned about the Tailings Dam for this mine it is very large and will have environmental issues if leakage occurs.
Dense population and close proximity to a town is not the place for a mine, we are needing to protect our environment not ravage it with mining which leaves scars on the landscape for an eternity. We will hear and feel blasting form the mine where we live, the lights from the mine are very visible to our property as is, our house is 98 years old, built by my husbands grandfather in 1921, how will we be able to prevent damage to our house with blasting from the mine. We are an agricultural area providing food for the nation, mines and agriculture do not mix, our livelihood will be effected from this mine. The issue of the Belubula river is so important, stock drink from this river their are native animals , birds and aquatic species that rely on this river it needs protecting from mine refuse. We already have major issues with the Murray Darling Basin and with the ongoing drought on fish kill. If mines are given permission to establish themselves in areas where there are rivers, waterways, agriculture and densely populated areas in such close proximity, then there is no hope for the environment and the future of the communities that live there. Please consider what we have expressed in this opposition to McPhillamys Gold Mine we are the ones that have to live here and will be experiencing the detrimental effect of this mine everyday.
Yours sincerely,
Amanda and Ian Stonestreet

I am gravely concerned about the possibility of Regis establishing a mine on the proposed site at Kings Plains. Regis are planning to clear approximately 327 acres of the natural habitat for vulnerable species. Koalas, squirrel gliders and many other native animals will be adversely affected. The storage of contaminated water on the mine site will further jeopardise the lives of a number of native birds and animals. They will have to contend with dust, and land pollution, blasting, night lighting 24/7/365.
There are well established apiaries in the area in close proximities to the proposed development. What is going to happen when the bees come into contact with toxic dust and contaminated water? This will have adverse effects on cross-pollination and will inevitably contaminate the honey that they produce. Regis’ purchase of a small property south of Blayney as an “offset” is of little compensation in relation to the devastation these species will face.

For the past 7 years our lives have been unbearable. The threat of having a goldmine operating beside us has filed us with dread. We purchased our 150 acres at Kings Plains 35 years ago. We designed and owner built our colonial style house and have been working to maintain and improve the property ever since. Our family are all in the Bathurst area and love to come to the farm with their children on weekends and visits. We all love the lifestyle and enjoy breeding Hereford Cattle, and all aspects of rural life.
My husband is a furniture maker and antique dealer and we have operated the business from home for many years. Our lives have been miserable since Regis Resources came on the scene with devastating effect on the every-day life and happiness of our family. We feared being forced from the land and way of life we love.
We put on hold our planned additions to our home and property improvements, and have generally lost interest in the upkeep of our lovely colonial home. We were assure by Chris Roach (Regis Representative) in the early years that the mine would not affect us. “Don’t worry, go about your lives as usual.” Impossible for us to do, knowing that the mine development would ruin our peaceful lifestyle. We continually made enquires to Regis Resources regarding the buffer zone so that we could make some decision regarding our future, to no avail. Regis have always been evasive, offering no information regarding buffer zone and health risks associated with the development.
Tony McPaul has been more accommodating since we lost confidence in Chris Roach. Although, Tony has also assured us that we have nothing to fear, even though we are approximately 1km from the mine project boundary.
I have discovered from the EIS application, that we are classified as a (P.A.A) primary assessment area, i.e within 2km radius of the mine project area. #R06. Tony told my husband we won’t be affected by the noise, except for the blasting, air pollution won’t be a problem, and our bore water supply won’t be interrupted because the pit will only affect the water table on the other side of the hill. He advised us that our property values will only increase, as they “always do when a mine moves into the area”. So, we have had plenty to worry about.
We have witnessed the horrible damage inflicted on our community since Regis announced their intentions. Two of our closest neighbours gave into the pressure applied by Regis Resources and sold, after years of mental anguish and many sleepless nights. Both neighbours were going insane with worry and anticipation regarding the development. One couple’s marriage is in tatters, they have no idea where or how to restart their lives.
Our property values have plummeted because no one wants to purchase property close to a potential mine development. Properties are not selling even after prolonged advertising. If we did want to sell, we would have to take a significant drop in price. If we stay and survive the mine development our land will always be undervalued by the mines proximity. My husband told Tony McPaul that we have had enough, and if they would make us a decent offer we would be willing to move. Tony’s response was “they were not in a position to purchase any more properties at this time, as they were short of funds after recent purchases”.
Regis resources has no intentions of developing a buffer zone around the mine site. It’s obvious from conversations with neighbours that Regis refusing to acknowledge our predicament. They have stated in “the financial burden of any decline in property values, rests with the existing property owners” (EIS Social Impact Assessment pg 174).
Even if Regis agreed to a buffer zone, and bought up all or most of the 88 other families in the P.A.A area at above market value, I feel it would be nearly impossible for us to successfully relocate. Similar properties to ours are in very short supply and with most of neighbours also in the market place it surely would be an impossible task.
I feel Regis Resources have blatantly disregarded the feelings of a once peaceful contented Kings Plains community. They have surely failed to understand the impact on our lives, choosing to focus instead on the advancement of their goal.

I cannot believe that Regis think that they can construct a goldmine at the upper reaches of the Belubula River, blocking the natural springs and redirecting the flow of the tributaries, without causing irreversible damage to the environment.
They are planning to construct a tailings dam of approximately 642 acres (larger than Carcoar dam) with walls exceeding 50 metres in height. It is well documented that “tailings storage facilities contain fine particles suspended in water, which have the potential to damage the environment by releasing toxic metals, causing erosion, sink holes, and contaminating the soil and water supplies. In tailing dams of this size, leaks into surface and ground waters are probably inevitable. The heavy metals, acids and other contaminants end up polluting ground water, lakes, streams and rivers.”
Apparently tailing dams in Australia tend to seep into the surrounding environment rather than fail completely. No wonder communities worldwide are becoming more concerned about mining impacts on the environment. This would be detrimental outcome for the Blayney community as a whole, especially when water is such a scarce but precious commodity in our current climate, far more valuable than gold.

I am concerned for the environment and the community if this mine is approved. Not only while in operation, but after the mine is to part I feel there is a high chance of environmental pollution and degradation.
They are proposing to block the springs that feed the Belubula River, and construct a tailings dam of approximately 642 acres in which to dump the toxic waste slurry. On completion of the mining operation, this valley of toxic waste will be so unstable that it will be unsafe to grow trees on! Let alone be productively farmed.
The pit that will be formed by the excavation of 230 000 000 tons of waste rock has the potential to leak acid into the water table from day one. This crater approximately 1050m by 460 deep will be left on completion to gradually fill with water, draining our aquifers for hundreds of years to come.
They are planning to pipe 13 000 000 litres of water per day from Lithgow, which will be of questionable quality, probably high in salt. Regis are refusing to confirm its composition. This water will be sussed over the mine site and the salt will remain for years after natural evaporation.
If there is a failure of overflow from the tailings dam or any of the “run off interception dams”, pollution downstream is inevitable. Imagine the mine site when we have a wet winter as we did in 2016, the site will be overflowing with water of questionable toxicity. This water can only finish up in the Belubula river system. Surely a recipe for disaster! If we care about the environment and have any concern for what we are leaving future generations, we must not allow this mine to be approved.

My family and I have been visiting friends that live on a lovely farm adjacent to the proposed site of the McPhillamy mine project. For years we have enjoyed the change of scenery and the peaceful lifestyle of Kings Plains. We camp on the property, our children have learnt much bushcraft, identifying animals such as koalas, kangaroos, possums, echidnas and many native birds and insects. They swim and we catch yabbies in the dams.
We were horrified when told that Regis have applied for a license to develop a goldmine on 2513 hectare on land at Kings Plains. If successful, this will surely put an end to our visits. I imagine the night lighting 24/7 would probably be bearable, however we would be foolish to allow our family to come into contact with the possibly toxic dust and fumes that will surely escape the mine site. I don’t believe Regis will be able to contain the drift of mining dust and fumes onto neighbouring land.
The unpredictable weather with storms and sudden wind changes will be near impossible for Regis to manage. Nobody in their right mind would allow their children to be exposed to toxic dust particles in the air, on the ground, or in the water they bathe and swim in, let alone eat yabbies that have been living in the contaminated water.
Obviously the tranquillity will be replaced by the sound of the mining and processing operation 24/7 and the blasting compared by Regis to lightning strikes. I hate to think how the native animals we have enjoyed visiting will react to the sudden and complete change in the landscape and their habitat. I’m sure the landscape would be ruined for generations to come, please don’t allow this to happen.

Surely the NSW government could not allow a mining company to construct a 642 acre tailings dam on top of the natural spring tributaries that feed into the Belubula River. The mining lease application area is 1812.99 hectares, Regis Resources planned use of the mine site is processing arsenic rich ore from the McPhillamy’s ore body and when exhausted, plan to transport ore from other deposits in the Central West for processing, prolonging operations at Kings Plains and continuing to add toxic wastes to its tailings dam.
Noise is obviously a negative factor for the 88 homesteads classified in the EIS as “distant receivers”, but the dust is surely a huge problem for the entire community. There is no possible way that the community is not going to experience dust clouds at certain times under changing weather conditions. What is going to be in the dust and fumes?
The landscape will surely be changed forever? We don’t want Blayney and surrounds to finish up looking like Cadia Valley. Regis have said that the depletion will be regenerated, however surely there will be a huge mountain of dusty waste rock, containing toxins left after the mining operation period ceases. When it rains, these toxins and heavy metal particles will be washed into the water table.

Over the years I have spent many happy hours enjoying water sports at Carcoar Dam (camping/fishing). My wife and I now have 2 lovely young daughters who have been enjoying the same activities. The idea of a gold mine of this magnitude positioned in the catchment of the Belubula River fills me with fear. I understand they are planning to pump 13 000 000 litres of water a day from Lithgow. This water will incorporate waste water from a coal preparation facility and salt water (brine) derived from the Mt Piper power station and associated desalination plant. This water is to be used in containing dust apparently and after the natural amount of evaporation, the salt content will remain and inevitably contaminate the mine site.
How can Regis possibly guarantee that the water quality of the Belubula River and surrounds will not be compromised given the history of mining failures in Australia?

If you wanted to ruin a river, could there be a better way?
1. Block off the springs and tributaries to the supply of the river.
2. Dig a pit approximately 1km diameter by 0.5km deep to drain and contaminate surrounding aquifers and the water table for hundreds of years.
3. Construct a tailings dam hundreds of acres in size on top of the headwaters and upper reaches of the river burying it forever.
4. Pipe 13 000 000 litres of possibly contaminated water (probably high in salt content) to use every day on site.
5. After extracting golf from the 230 000 000 tons of waste using a cyanide based process, the non-gold residue would be pumped into the tailings dam. The bulk of the waste rock will be dumped on site with the potential to leak acidic liquid and toxic waste for years to come.
This is what Regis is planning to do to the Belubula River at Kings Plains, please do not let this happen.

What hope for the future do residents in close proximity (primary assessment area) to the proposed McPhillamy mine have? My parents have their home and small farm on the boundary of the project area. Their bore has supplied clean drinking water to the house and stock for the past 35 years and has never run dry.
They were told by Tony McPaul that Regis’ mining activity would have no effect on neighbouring bore water. Now, in the EIS I noticed they are predicting a level drawdown of 2 meters to neighbours bores.
They have admitted now that they are going to use their own ground water bores, surface water site licenses and possibly purchase water rights from further downstream. When they construct their tailings dam there will be a 50 metre high embankment across the whole valley, blocking off and burying the springs and upper part of the Belubula River forever! In addition, their mine pit will be approximately 1050 metres in diameter and 460 metres deep. Apart from being a potential source of acid mine drainage, this pit will be left when mining ceases. It will fill slowly, draining surrounding aquifers for hundreds of years!
If Regis is granted approval, surely my parent’s major source of water is going to be in jeopardised?

I have great concerns about the proposed Regis gold mine development at Kings Plains. These are some of my many concerns:
- Contamination of the water table by the storage of tailings on site of the Belubula River.
- If the project goes ahead Blayney will be left with a crater approximately 1km in diameter and half 1km deep, which will drain underground water for surrounding farming properties for hundreds of years to come.
- No matter how well they implement “best practices”, the neighbours and community will be breathing fine particles of inevitably toxic dust, depending on the prevailing weather conditions throughout the requested 20 year license of this project.
- We are classified as “distant receiver R06” in the plans, as we are within a 1km of the mine site. We have been told that we will not be impacted by the blasting and the general noise levels of operation. If we are, their strategy is to upgrade elements such as windows, doors and roofing insulation to increase the ability of our house to reduce the noise levels. What a disgrace, what about when we are outdoors? Our property borders the “mine development area”
- We have occupied this peaceful property for the past 35 years, and have devoted the majority of our lives to establishing successful farming practices, well established gardens and an enjoyable lifestyle for our family, always hoping to improve the value. What is our property worth now? If a gold mine is to be established within 1km?

Key issues with this proposed mine are -
Noise and dust for 24/7 to impact on adjacent land and properties
The increase in traffic on the adjacent highway
The visual impact on Kings Plains during and after the mine finishes
Water - in an age of diminishing water resources to open any further mines that are heavily dependent on water, is toally irresponsible. And in this particular project, the substandard water to be piped from Lithgow could have possible airborne polluting effect on the adjacent farm properties.
Tailings dam of 600 acres has a major potential for leeching dangerous chemicals. There is no record of any mine of this type having zero leeching problems. And that is anywhere in the world.
It would apprear that the process for this mine's production is not world's best practice. Cyanide is a cheap alternative to best practice.
There is every chance that the Belubula River will never escape pollution from this mine which would be catastrophic for all land on its boundary.
There are far too many risks attached to a project that is only going to produce 2000oz of gold per annum and leave 8million tons of waste to be cleaned up.
It is an immoral and unethical project in the extreme and will produce little or zero benefit for local region. The profits will in all probability go overseas as they do from so many other mining projects in Australia.
THIS PROJECT NEEDS OBJECTIVE CONSIDERATION FOR ALL CONCERNED AND NOT JUST FOR THOSE JUST IN IT FOR MONEY.

ect to this proposed mine for the following reasons:

The vast majority of Australia is in the grip of drought, claimed by some to be the most severe and widespread in recorded history. Most expert opinion is that, due to the now unavoidable climate change caused by global warming, such droughts are going to become the new normal. This will result in reduced rainfall, increased evaporation, and consequent scarcity of water for all purposes, including farming, on which we all depend for food production. Yet this project is seriously proposing to construct a tailings dam, full of potentially toxic sludge, on top of the headwaters of one of the few rivers in the country still in reasonable condition.
Tailings dams have been known to fail, with catastrophic consequences. Destroying this agricultural area for a 15 year project to extract gold at a concentration of perhaps 1.05gm/tonne, producing 60m+ tonnes of waste, and leaving a destroyed landscape and toxic legacy that will last forever just cannot be justified to produce a metal that will likely end up as jewellery, or be locked away as bullion. No doubt the financiers and engineers who are promoting and designing this project are highly skilled, but the risks posed by this project are way out of proportion with the benefit to be gained for the country as a whole.
Some towns in NSW are about to run out of water. It is morally problematic to say the least that water has been turned into a commodity in this country rather than an essential resource to which everybody has a right and human and animal interests are considered higher than the profits of organisations.
The use of cyanide to process the gold from ore and then pumped into the tailings dam. Cyanide has been banned in nine countries, Korea, Ecuador, Argentina, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Greece, Turkey, Germany and Hungary and some US states and poses a dangerous and toxic threat to the water and land in the region.
Inevitable contamination of the Belubula and Lachlan Rivers, due to seepage through groundwater flows from the tailings dam
Traffic problems and caused by the continuous stream of heavy vehicles, and light vehicles at shift changes
The blot on the landscape caused by the “amenity bunds” and dust
Loss of natural land and environment for wildlife, and the impact of toxicity on surrounding wildlife
Noise, dust, vibrations, particulate pollution from diesel fumes, light pollution 7 days a week and 24 hours a day
The noise, vibrations and risks posed by regular explosions permitted for 12 hours a day. This will impact livestock and domestic animals on neighbouring properties and could damage heritage buildings
Permanent degradation of prime agricultural land and scenery
Loss of trees including high altitude yellow box that may be 200 years old
Impact on bee population due to loss of ground flora and contaminated water
Loss of the forest where the mine is proposed that is considered an ecologically endangered community as defined by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage
The high probability that the developer will not be willing or able to rehabilitate the site when the mine eventually becomes unviable, as has happened so many times in the history of mining
The whole project proposes less than 1000 short terms jobs. Other industries in this area, with support a more diversified and resilient economy including tourism, renewables and sustainable agriculture offer far more employment.

Please find attached my objection

This project will provide a large economic benefit to the central west region, provide employment and training opportunities for the local youth and will also allow professionals in the mining industry with young families to be home every night rather than working FIFO rosters in QLD or WA.

We are, and have been in a state of uncertainty for many years with this project hanging over our heads. This has affected our health both mentally and physically. Our well being and life in general is been severely affected, both individually and as a family. We are constantly worrying about the affects this will have on our way of life, our lively hood and the negative affect it will have on the value of our property

We join the mine development on the western side and go to the Guyong Road. We have approximately 400 acres of prime agricultural land.

I don't understand that they can propose to build a 750 acre tailings dam on the head waters of the Belubula River. This area has springs and water courses which will be destroyed. How can Regis guarantee that this won’t affect the flow of water into the River, as well as water quality. Water is one of the most precious resources we have and we can’t afford to affect it in a negative way.

How can Regis guarantee that the tailings dam will not leak contaminates into the water table, or there won’t be a failure of the tailings dam wall. Heavy metals and cyanide are not good for the environment and any leakage would be a tragedy. They say that the studies and modelling that have been completed show it can be done, but they can’t guarantee that it is never going to leak into the water table or the have a failure of the dam wall.

The use of toxic cyanide in the processing is also a concern, how can the say that any of this will not end up in our waterways.

The water coming to the site via the pipeline from Lithgow area will contain salt and heavy metals which will be used for dust control on roads and amenity bunds. This will contaminate the soil and water systems. This will also leave high levels of salt in and around the mine site. We know that when salty water evaporates, salt remains. Why do we need to contaminate the site with salt, brought in from another area?

Traffic levels will increase on the surrounding roads, which some roads will not cope with. Along with extra heavy vehicles, some carrying toxic chemicals e.g. cyanide, making the roads more dangerous.

Over 3 thousand acres of prime agricultural land will be destroyed, and it will never be the same again. This is some of the most fertile and safest agricultural land in the state. Even after rehabilitation the land will not be left as it was before or as productive and pristine.

There will be a major impact on the flora and fauna on the mine site and surrounding area. This will be lost and never be regained.

There are apiarists nearby the mine site and the affect that mining activities on bee’s could be quite catastrophic. The health of the bee’s and honey contamination could be severely affected. These are large important business that employ people and have invested in the area. This development could ruin them.



How can Regis guarantee that the Belubula will not be contaminated by mining activities, which will be a tragedy for the environment, communities along the river and everyone in general. The river and water are the life blood for us all.

I am worried about the project affecting the value of our property. We purchased here 25 years ago to bring up our family and run our superfine merino stud. We have plans of developing the property further to make it a show place and for us, our kids and now our grand kids to enjoy into the future. We have worked hard to get where we are now and I feel that this project will decrease the value and destroy our life here, this is our piece of "paradise" in our eyes. Why should we, “The Little Fella” have to have our lifestyle, way of life, plans, future and property values negatively affected by this big company wanting to make money. How is it right that we and others can have our lives and health affected so enormously, and we just have to accept it.

I am concerned about our water. We rely on a bore for water, both for drinking and stock water. Can Regis guarantee that our water will not be affected when they excavate a pit some 460 metres deep only a couple of kilometres away.

Apparently, it will take hundreds of years for the ground water to recover after the mining is completed. How is this good for our area.

Light pollution is a concern. We have beautiful night skies, some nights very dark and starry. This is beautiful and will be destroyed by the large amount of lighting that the mine will use. Why do we have to accept this.

Noise is a big issue. We have a very quiet area here. It is something that is important to us. A quite rural area. If the mine goes ahead, we will have a constant mining “hum”. This will be 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Why do we have to accept this. I spoke to the noise expert at the Regis open day on the 16/09/2019. We discussed this issue and I was told that, the noise policy used by Regis developed by Government is designed to cover / protect 90% of the people 90% of the time. I was told that I was in the 10% that the policy doesn’t cover. So basically, I have to put up with it. How is this fair or even allowed.

Dust, how can Regis guarantee that we will not be contaminated by dust. Their “models” show that we will be affected slightly, but still be within the accepted limits. Dust from roads, amenity bunds, stockpiles, mill, tailings dams etc, all needs to be controlled. I need a guarantee that no contaminated dust will end up on my pastures, which may affect pasture growth, stock health and soil / ground health. What about this contaminated dust on my roof, then into our water tanks, which we them drink, or the washing on the clothes line.

I feel that the residents on the Guyong Road have been forgotten by Regis. A lot of work has been done in the Kings Plains area which are very close to the development. The Guyong Road area contains a lot of families and businesses, and I feel that we have not been given the due consideration by Regis that is deserved. I have had only one visit by a Regis representative, very early on. We have been told that they are coming to discuss the development with us, but nothing has come of this. They have not consulted with us on a one to one level during the process, we join them as neighbours, but we haven’t been given the time by Regis. Being a neighbour to this development extremely affects us and I feel that we haven’t be given due consideration.

Yes, jobs will be created, but new people coming to the area will be minimal, with most people coming from the larger centres like Orange and Bathurst. There is also the problem of existing businesses in Blayney, loosing employees to the mine, as they won’t be able to compete with mine wages. How is this sustainable for them.

What about people and families that will leave the area because of the mine development.

From my above points and issues, it shows that this development is not good for this area.

It is affecting our health both Mentally and Physically.

Our way of life, future, business, assets and general quality of life will be severely affected in an extremely negative way. How is this allowed or even fair?

Thank you for your time to consider my submission.

Kind Regards

Michael Hoadley
“New Plains”
302 Guyong Road
Blayney NSW 2799
M: 0490 843 797
H: 6368 3109
E: mahoadley6.gmail.com

Our company object to this development for the following reasons,

- This will put stress on the labour market in the area as local businesses will not be able to compete with the wages paid at the mine. Employees will leave established business to chase the higher wages at the mine. This will make it hard for local businesses to find employees.
- Concern for water security for people living around the developement who rely on bores and the Belabula River.
- Reduced flow into the Belabula River.
- Tailings dam to be built over the head waters of the Belabula River, containing many springs and waterways.
- Chance of contamination of the River and ground water.
- Noise pollution caused by mining activities for residents in the Kings Plains and Guyong Road areas, plus other residents who join or are close to the mine site.
- Visual pollution for the whole Blayney area.
- Dust pollution on surrounding land and homes, what is in this dust?
- Top quality agricultural farm land will be destroyed, and will never be the same again.
- Loss of trees and habitat for wildlife.
- Concern for Bee producers in the area and the affect it may have on their bees and honey.
- Water piped in from Lithgow area may contain high levels of salt, which will add contamination to the site.
- Ground water system will be interupted, and will it ever recover?
- The local night sky will be lit up and we will loose our dark starry nights.
- The negative effect on land and property values for those living near the mine site.
- Affects on peoples health, both mental and physical.
- Lose of peoples quality of life who live near the mine.
- Increased traffic on local roads.
- Increased heavy vehicle movements, some with hazardous materials.
How can this developement be allowed with some many impacts on the local area, the environment and people.
Thank you

Hoadley Family Pty Ltd