WHAT IS THE BOWDENS SILVER PROJECT?
Bowdens Silver is the largest, undeveloped silver project in Australia and one of the largest globally. Located near the village of Lue, approximately 30 km east of Mudgee in central New South Wales, Australia, the project comprises mineral tenements covering 2,007 square kilometres (496,000 acres) across the mineralised Rylstone Volcanics on the western edge of the Great Dividing Range.
Since its discovery in the 1980s the project has had several owners and been subject to extensive exploration and development studies. Its appeal is in no small part due to its proximity to nearby towns with access to infrastructure, water supply, the power grid and a highly skilled, local workforce.
In June 2016, the project was bought by Silver Mines Limited after a downturn in the silver price saw the previous owners cease operations. A new and invigorated recommencement of activities is now under way and plans are in place for a more condensed and enhanced development. Our viable farming operations will continue alongside the development of the mine and together these integrated activities will bring many benefits to the district by way of direct employment, the supply of support industries, economic investment into the local communities and support for local development, educational and sponsorship initiatives.
BOWDENS SILVER PROJECT ACHIEVES FINAL DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL
Bowdens Silver is pleased to advise the community that the Independent Planning Commission of New South Wales (IPC) has approved the Bowdens Silver Project, allowing it to proceed to development and production subject to conditions of consent.
The decision means the Bowdens Silver Project is a step closer to creating hundreds of jobs and delivering a significant economic boost to the Mid-Western region. It follows a thorough assessment process, involving 14 NSW Government departments and agencies, rigorous independent peer reviews, and extensive consultation with the community and key stakeholders.
This is a significant milestone for the company and Project, and we appreciate it has been a long and thorough process for the entire community to ensure that we can deliver an environmentally, economically, and socially responsible mining operation. We appreciate the community’s ongoing patience and understanding, and the considered contributions they have made throughout the assessment process.
The IPC’s Statement of Reasons for Decision stated it “is satisfied that the Project can meet all relevant requirements for protecting human health and safety and that on balance, the Application is in the public interest.” The full document can be found here.
There is still a lot of work to do before the mine begins operations. Next steps for the Project is the completion of our management and engineering plans along with the completion of mine optimisation studies to further enhance the development and production operations. This work will continue throughout 2023 with development hopefully commencing in 2024.
Site Weather Conditions
You can see the current weather readings from our meteorological monitoring stations on site by clicking on the icons*
* The data used in the compilation of this page have undergone only preliminary quality assurance checks. These data may require modification during final stages of validation as a result of calibration changes, power failures, instrument failures etc.
Mudgee Weather
Please click one of the links below to view our on-site weather station data. After you click the link you will be presented with a login page. Please use the login credentials below to access.
Username: silvermines | Password: weather1
A SMARTER APPROACH TO MINING
As a modern society, we all rely on mining. Almost everything in our built environment contains elements extracted from the earth. Although new mining technologies and regulations have significantly improved mining efficiency and reduced environmental impact in recent years, we need to acknowledge the complex relationship between the mining industry and local communities in order to have a thriving and respected business with positive social and economic benefits.
At Bowdens Silver, we understand the importance of ensuring that our activities contribute as positively as possible and that we endeavour to minimise any negative impacts to both the environment and surrounding communities.
We promise transparency and we promise to continually strive to incorporate stakeholder interests including community interests and make sure that every aspect of our operation and facilities are not only in accordance with, but surpass the highest applicable health, safety and environmental and rehabilitation regulatory requirements.
DID YOU KNOW?
Although Silver was historically valued as a precious metal for its use in jewellery, coins and later in photography, its use today is primarily industrial. It is the best thermal and electrical conductor of all the metals, it is malleable and ductile meaning it can be stretched and moulded into any shape without breaking and it is antimicrobial and non-toxic.Whats Been Happening?
Latest Newsletters
The Bowdens Silver newsletters will be published regularly and will focus on development and operations updates as well as community-relevant news and announcements.
