Ann: Bowdens Silver Project Update, page-58

A representative of the action group was on the local news station for 1 minute 46 seconds early last week. He was touting a 28 page ‘independent’ economic impact report apparently saying that the Mudgee Region would lose $150M pa to 2048 from the tourism, farming and wine sectors if the silver mine went ahead. The reason?

Pollution from lead dust. No surprise there.

Few things to consider:

This report didn’t drop out of the sky. This is a consulting firm and it would have been paid to produce this report. And the client is without a doubt the Bingman Catchment Landcare Group Inc (who has recently registered as a charitable organisation by the way). The action group is sub-committee of this Landcare association.

It is doubtful that any of us will get to see this document as it is only being provided to the Council and NSW MPs according to the TV report.

It’s highly likely this report doesn’t consider alternative scenarios, which you would expect from an ‘independent’ report.

A good start would be to analyse what would happen if the silver mine does not release lead dust into the atmosphere because of the strict conditions of their (currently removed) consent regarding the managing lead dust.

The management of air born particulates, including lead dust, is one of the 14 management plans SVL will need approved before the mine can begin production.

These management plans, by the way, can’t be lodged before consent is reinstated.