Silver Mines Ltd (ASX:SVL, OTC:SLVMF) welcomes important legislative amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (NSW) that will impact the company’s flagship Bowdens Silver Project.
Following a decision by the NSW Court of Appeal to set aside the Bowdens' development consent provided by the NSW Independent (LON:IOG) Planning Commission, the state Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully has amended the legislation.
Bipartisan support
Amendments to the Act received bipartisan support in the NSW Parliament and these changes now have legal weight, having received Royal Assent this week.
The amended legislation gives the planning secretary the power to declare which part of a project does or does not form part of a single proposed development for the purposes of Part 4 planning approvals.
This helps to reinstate the general approach taken to the planning assessment of State Significant Development projects, such as Bowdens, prior to the court’s decision.
The company now has a clear pathway to seek reinstatement of the development consent for Bowdens under the new laws, in consultation with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
Working with government
Silver Mines is working with the DPHI and other government departments on its existing development application.
Advice received by the company is that the Bowdens development application remains on foot and has not been finally determined by the consent authority, the IPC.
The new laws will apply to a future assessment of the company's existing application for the Bowdens Silver Project.