The motion to appeal was passed at yesterday’s policy and strategy committee meeting, a day before the deadline.

Mayor Fergus Thomson said they objected to the environmental threat to the shire’s water supply now and in the long term.

“Council has expressed very serious concern of the possible impact on the shire’s water supply if something failed,” he said.

The Dargues Reef project includes a gold mine, processing plant, temporary waste rock emplacement and a tailings storage facility, near Majors Creek, according to a report prepared by water and waste acting director Amanda Jones.

The NSW Depart-ment of Planning and Infrastructure approved the project last month.

Last week, the Federal Government also gave its stamp of approval to the project, which will be developed by Cortona Resources Ltd.

Dargues Reef is planned to be a six-year mine that

will produce 50,000 ounces of gold a year, and is anticipated to make about $70 million a year.

While it has been labelled a great economic project for the region, council is up in arms because it was not consulted in the Environmental Assess-ment process.

At last month’s ordinary meeting, strategic, development and environmental services director Lindsay Usher said council was consulting with solicitors to work out its grounds for appeal.

Eurobodalla resident Peter Cormick also addressed councillors at last month’s meeting, and again yesterday.

Mr Cormick said at least 75 per cent of the shire’s water came from the Deua River catchment, where Majors Creek sits.

He said the project risked chemical toxicity in the town’s water, and could also reduce water quantity and quality.

“If the project goes ahead, there will be a tailings dam of 9.3 hectares, filled with toxic chemicals, sitting right up on the escarpment, at Majors Creek, forever and a day - like a timebomb,” he said.

He also claims the NSW Department of Planning and Infra-structure breached

the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act because it did not consult with council.

He said the Director- General of State Planning asked the proponent to consult with other public bodies but not Eurobodalla Shire Council.

“We are the only one excluded in that. Yet the impact from a catastrophe would affect us the most.

“It’s insulting, we’ve been snubbed big time,” he said.