Regis Resources gold mine project returns to review after court voids heritage order
The Federal Court has invalidated a heritage protection order affecting a section of the proposed $1.3 billion Kings Plains gold mine near Blayney. Justice James Stellios issued the ruling on Wednesday, October 14, which means the mining proposal by Regis Resources will now return to the office of Environment Minister Murray Watt for review.
The legal decision follows a period of significant disruption for the project. In August 2024, a Section 10 declaration under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act had blocked access to the site’s planned Tailings Storage Facility. This intervention previously forced Regis Resources to withdraw its Definitive Feasibility Study and write off a $192 million carrying value.
In response to previous heritage restrictions, Regis Resources had proposed an engineering shift to an Integrated Waste Landform (IWL) using a filtered tailings solution. This new method aims to avoid encroaching on protected areas by co-disposing de-watered mining slurry within regular mine waste dumps.
Entities
Federal Court of Australia · James Stellios · Kings Plains · Murray Watt · Regis Resources
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] A previous heritage declaration forced Regis Resources to withdraw its Definitive Feasibility Study and write off $192 million. www.blayneychronicle.com.au · www.mudgeeguardian.com.au · www.westernadvocate.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Calare MP Andrew Gee stated that the assessment process was found to be flawed. www.blayneychronicle.com.au · www.mudgeeguardian.com.au · www.westernadvocate.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Regis Resources has proposed a $1.3 billion gold mine at Kings Plains near Blayney. www.blayneychronicle.com.au · www.mudgeeguardian.com.au · www.westernadvocate.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Federal Court ruled that a heritage protection order on a section of the Kings Plains gold mine site is invalid. www.blayneychronicle.com.au · www.mudgeeguardian.com.au · www.westernadvocate.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Justice James Stellios delivered the decision on Wednesday, October 14. www.blayneychronicle.com.au · www.mudgeeguardian.com.au · www.westernadvocate.com.au