Silver Mines (ASX:SVL) has updated on its ongoing stoush with an environmentally-minded group over its proposed mine in NSW.
SIlver Mines has been embroiled in a lawsuit along with the NSW planning commission brought against them both by the Bingman Catchment Landcare Group (BCLG).
BCLG is a private group made of members living around the Hawkins and Lawsons Creek Catchments. The entity is listed on the NSW government landcare website.
In short, BCLG is putting forward the charge that Silver Mines’ operations in the area would degrade natural wilderness assets in the short and long term.
An earlier decision from a lower-level land court in NSW’s judicial ecosystem dismissed the original lawsuit. Following that, BCLG went to the court of appeal to challenge that dismissal.
It is the appeals court who are now ready to issue another decision this Friday, with Silver Mines MD Jonathan Battershill signing off on an announcement that read the company “looks forward to the speedy resolution of the appeal.”
HotCopper users sniffed out a promising outcome to be delivered on Friday, in between the lines of that statement – though, speculation on the HotCopper forums does not a guarantee make.
Other users were far more chiding.
“At what point does the legal system declare this is just spurious litigation?,” one user commented, suggesting BCLG’s overall contest is intended only to frustrate. The Market Online as an extension of HotCopper does not intend to suggest this is true or that BCLG are acting in an improper way.
BCLG’s concerns aren’t without merit. Silver Mines proposed Bowens project would contain a lead mining component – most silver mines do – and lead mines are renowned for potential contamination risks (as all mines are.)
Notably, the planning commission of NSW suggested Silver Mines could make efforts to allow nearby residents to be blood tested for lead at recurring intervals.
It is equally true, however – to defend the aforementioned HotCopper user – that most environmental lawsuits in Australia hinge on administrative law, which ultimately boils down to finding problems with paperwork.
This finance journalist used to work for such a community legal centre in a past life. Of course, lawyers working in the space would argue Australian environmental laws broadly don’t allow for much else.
SVL last traded at 15cps.