The NSW Legislative Council's Portfolio Committee No. 2 – Health is currently conducting an inquiry into current and potential impacts of gold, silver, lead and zinc mining on human health, land, air and water quality in New South Wales.

This is your chance to have a say on the policies, regulations and planning processes that will impact our Mid-Western region as the push for metals mining continues across NSW.

Metals like gold, lead, zinc and silver are prevalent in the volcanic geology of our region, and they are in hot demand. If development of metals mining is to continue and increase in our region, it has to be done in a way that doesn’t jeopardise the environment, health and livelihoods of those in the Mid-Western Region.

HOW TO MAKE A SUBMISSION

Submissions close on 5 September.

You don’t need to be an expert to make a submission. Your submission does not need to be long, formal or detailed. It just needs to clearly set out your views in relation to the terms of reference for the inquiry (see terms here). You should also:

• introduce yourself or your organisation

• state whether you are addressing some or all of the terms of reference

• be relevant, clear and concise in sharing your views

• outline what the issues are, and include potential solutions/recommendations

• refer to any other supporting material if relevant, like legislation, reports or research

• use clear structure and page numbers

• avoid including adverse comments about others

• indicate whether or not you would like to give evidence at a hearing (note that it’s up to the Legislative Council Committee whether or not you will be invited to present at a hearing).

A note on attachments: Because of the way the Legislative Council Committee will review submitted material, it prefers that key points are summarised or addressed up front in submissions, and attachments are avoided where possible.

Click here for a factsheet on making a submission.

You can lodge a submission by:

• uploading it to the committee's website

• emailing it to PortfolioCommittee2@parliament.nsw.gov.au

• writing to The Director, Portfolio Committee No. 2 - Health, Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

MORE INFORMATION

Inquiry terms of reference: click here

Submissions fact sheet: click here

Media release announcing inquiry: click here