A NSW gold miner wants an enormous water licence from the state government. 

Regis Resources is working on the $300 million McPhillamys Gold Project near Bathurst, but it needs more water,

It has consulted with the government to sell it a licence of 192 megalitres a year of surface water in the Belubula River which is currently held by the Water Administration Ministerial Corporation.

Regis says the project is “designed to divert rainfall and runoff around the facilities as much as practicable, however surface water licensing is required”.

The company is also planning to pipe water from the Mt Piper coal-fired power station. Conservationists say the plant needs five wastewater pumping stations across over 83 kilometres, crossing 15 water courses.

Green groups say granting the licence would be a disaster for the Belubula and the Lachlan River that it flows into.

The Planning Department is still assessing the proposal. The Independent Planning Commission is expected to make a determination within 12 weeks. 

Water Minister Melinda Pavey seems to be leaning towards granting the licence.

“The NSW government strongly believes productive water should be used for productive purposes,” a spokesperson for Ms Pavey said. 

“We recognise the importance of the proposal to the Central West and are working to give an opportunity to the proponent or other interested parties to buy surrendered licences.”

The Environmental Defenders Office is representing the Belubula Headwaters Protection Group. Lawyer Emma Carmody says “the water needs to stay in the river”. 

“To consider selling it to a mining company in the circumstances is nothing short of irresponsible,” she said.