Regis sues Plibersek over mine decision

Miner Regis Resources has lodged papers in the Federal Court seeking a judicial review and relief over Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s decision to halt the McPhillamys Gold Project near Blayney in NSW.

Ms Plibersek granted an Aboriginal protection order over the site in August, where a dam would have been built at the headwaters of the Belubula River.

The Wiradjuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation lodged a Section 10 application under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act, which effectively halted operations.

Ms Plibersek did say at the time the decision did not mean the mine could not proceed, but suggested the dam could be built at another location.

The company disputed this and although declaring the project unviable said they would seek further legal advice.

The Regis Resource application is seeking to have the minister’s decision declared “legally invalid”.

“As the minister has not agreed to revoke the Section 10 declaration, we are now seeking judicial review and relief from the decision,” Regis Resources CEO and managing director Jim Beyer said in a statement.