Regis Resources launches Federal Court challenge over McPhillamys Gold protection order

A mining company has announced it intends to launch a legal challenge over a federal government decision that has halted its gold mine in the New South Wales Central West. Regis Resources said in a statement it had lodged papers in the Federal Court seeking a judicial review and relief, relating to a decision by the Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek over its McPhillamys Gold Project near Blayney. In August, Ms Plibersek granted an Aboriginal protection order over the site of the mine's tailings dam, which would have been built at the headwaters of the Belubula River. Regis Resource said if its application was successful, it would be asking the Federal Court to declare the minister's declaration "legally invalid", that it be redetermined by a different minister and for the company to be awarded costs. "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.