I agree that the Optimised Mardie approval would have an impact...

I agree that the Optimised Mardie approval would have an impact on construction in general and is a concern especially at the top end of the project and it is an all or nothing approval irrespective of work done.
However filling ponds 1 to 3 unless I am wrong was not impacted in the Optimised version and they have approval from the initial submission.
e.g. they still seem to be laying rocks on embankments impacting these ponds so that is the sort of item that could mean BCI is "actually" not ready.

What I am asking is "what is stopping the ponds being filled if anything ".
If nothing then that is the answer I am after.

Then we would move to impacts/changes in construction like dredging, positioning of crystallisers etc which appear to all be about habitat impacts.
Clearly there is work going on which MUST still fall under what has already been approved; but the clock must be ticking.