Today I met with Regis Resources CEO Jim Beyer to discuss the McPhillamys gold mine project.
We discussed the important role that metals mining plays in NSW as a leading regional employer, particularly in the state's Central West.
Metals mines across the Central West employ thousands of people and are important contributors to the global supply chain for clean energy products like solar panels, EV batteries and wind turbines.
The NSW Government welcomed the Independent Planning Commission's decision in March 2023 to grant consent to the McPhillamys project. Given the project had been through rigorous environmental and heritage approvals by the IPC, the NSW Government had expected the project to go ahead.
The NSW Government remains disappointed at the Federal Government's decision to issue a 'section 10' declaration, considering the IPC considered tangible and intangible local Aboriginal heritage concerns in granting the development consent.
Protecting heritage and progressing key mining projects should not be a zero-sum proposition.
We discussed the complexities of finding an acceptable alternative tailings dam site that meet all parties' requirements, including for Aboriginal heritage, environmental impact and project viability.
I was pleased to hear from Mr Beyer that Regis Resources would continue to look at options for the mine to proceed.
