Mudgee Region Action Group: Calls for mine halt after koala sightings at Bowdens Silver site

A regional action group is rallying against an approved silver mine due to rare koala sightings in the state’s Central West. Here’s the latest.

An action group in the state’s central west is rallying to oppose a silver mine, which is yet to be built, due to rare sightings of some endangered furry friends on the approved land.

Mudgee Region Action Group member Mick Boller told The Dubbo News a growing group of koalas have been spotted on Bowdens Silver’s approved site in Lue, 30km east of Mudgee, in the past months.

In NSW, koalas are considered endangered and have faced a range of threats, including habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, bushfires, vehicle strikes and climate change.

Mr Boller said koalas had been identified in the area since 2007, with a number of sightings in and around the footprint of the mine site since 2017.

Mudgee Region Action Group member Mick Boller. Photo: Supplied.

“It has been raised with them [Bowdens Silver] in a number of forums like the community consultation committee for example, and they’ve stated they are not required to have a koala management plan,” Mr Boller said.

“There are live and breathing koalas which have been photographed within footprint the project and they don’t have a plan.

A koala spotted on the approved Bowdens Silver site. Photo: Supplied.

“Their investigation of the koala population has been very sparse and rudimentary.”

Mr Boller said a blasting was conducted before Christmas with two koalas seen on the site.

He said the action group was opposing the project on a range of grounds, including loss of surface and groundwater, lead contamination and the growing koala population.

Mick Boller is opposed the mine. Photo: Supplied.

“At the very minimum, we would like a proper study of what exactly is occurring with the koala population,” he said.

“It’s an iconic Australia species which is also endangered so lots of habitat is critical.”

The lead, zinc silver mine said they conducted multiple “comprehensive” biodiversity surveys over many years.

“In any case, our small footprint will be fully offset through a biodiversity management plan,” a representative said.

The construction of the project is expected to commence later this year.