Silver Mines Ltd has lodged a formal application under recently amended New South Wales planning legislation as it progresses the redetermination of its Development Application (DA) for the Bowdens Silver Project.
The company has taken this step following legislative changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) (EPA Act) introduced by the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, in the wake of the NSW Court of Appeal’s decision to set aside the Bowdens Project’s prior development consent.
The updated legislation restores the general planning approach previously used for State Significant Development projects by allowing the Planning Secretary to determine whether elements of a project form part of a single development proposal for the purposes of planning consent.
“The submission of this application for determination by the NSW State Planning Secretary marks a key step along the process, which has now been made available subsequent to the legislative changes finalised in December last year," Silver Mines managing director, Jo Battershill said.
"We believe this application for determination should pave the way for the timely redetermination of our Development Application for the Bowdens Silver Project.
"Our team has worked diligently with the DPHI, government departments and other key stakeholders since the legislative changes were implemented, and we have been greatly encouraged by the ongoing support from the NSW government.
"Silver Mines remains fully committed to advancing the Bowdens Project for the benefit of all stakeholders, including the local community and regional economy, with approximately 220 direct, full-time jobs expected to be created once the operation is commissioned.”
Seeking clarification
Silver Mines has now submitted an application to the New South Wales Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) under section 4.38(4A) of the EPA Act. The application seeks clarification on whether the project’s transmission line forms part of a single proposed development requiring consent under the Bowdens DA.
The outcome of this determination will guide the Company’s next steps in seeking redetermination of development consent by the New South Wales Independent Planning Commission (IPC).
Silver Mines confirmed that the DA remains active and has not been finally determined by the IPC. The Company continues to engage with DPHI and other relevant departments regarding the existing DA.