BATHURST green groups are celebrating after Regis Resources walked away from plans to take up to 10 megalitres of treated effluent a day from the Macqaurie River for a gold mine near Blayney.
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The mining company put a proposal to Bathurst Regional Council in 2015 to buy between eight and 10 megalitres of treated effluent a day from the Waste Water Treatment Works – equivalent to the plant’s daily output to the Macquarie River.
The water would have been used in Regis’ McPhillamys Gold Mine at Kings Plains, about 30 kilometres west of Bathurst.
Council and Regis never revealed a proposed price tag for the water but the plan sparked a strong community protest from groups who feared for the river’s future.
Councillors voted in February 2016 to defer a decision on the sale until Regis had prepared a full environment impact statement but it now appears the proposal has been taken off the table.
In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange, Regis said it was exploring two new water sources.
Regis has signed a non-binding heads of agreement with Centennial Coal and Energy Australia to take between four and five gigalitres of waste water each year from the Mount Piper Power Station and Springvale Mine.
Under the deal, Regis would receive the water free but would foot the bill for piping and pumping the water about 70km to the McPhillamys site.
Regis has also secured Lachlan region water access licences which could provide 4.5 gigalitres each year.
“Currently Regis’ preferred option, subject to finalising a formal agreement, is the water from the Mount Piper Power Station and Springvale Mine near Lithgow,” the company said.
“As part of the overall project feasibility study, Regis will assess the feasibility of a number of water pipeline route options from the two water supply sources … to the McPhillamys site near Blayney.”
Councillor Monica Morse, who actively opposed the effluent sale, said the community campaign had helped “save the Macquarie”.
“I was always very keen that we retain all the treated water to go back into the river so I’m very pleased with that,” Cr Morse said.
“The Macquarie is really only a very small river and so much depends on it beyond our city borders.”
Cr Morse said if the McPhillamys mine goes ahead then Bathurst was still well-placed to reap the benefits.
“We will still get the jobs from the mine so we stand to get all the upside without having to put the river at risk.”
