Fresh drilling at Cavanacaw goldmine receives go-ahead

FULL planning permission has now been granted for the drilling of eight exploratory boreholes at the Cavanacaw goldmine, several miles outside Omagh.

Previously, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council had made no determination on the application submitted by the mine operators, Flintridge Resources.

This was then appealed by the applicant to the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) who have now given full planning permission for the drilling.

The application involves the drilling of eight boreholes at three locations within the existing opencast mine.

These boreholes will target a number of minerals, including gold and silver, with working taking place over a period of 16 weeks.

The appeal considered evidence from a third party, who stated that Fermanagh and Omagh District Council should not have accepted two applications for boreholes on the same day.

The third party went on to refer to ‘unlawful development’ within the mine site, including ‘unlawfully drilled boreholes’.

They cited five ongoing enforcement investigations into alleged breaches of conditions on the ‘parent’ planning approval for the site, and argued that no more permissions should be granted within the mine until all outstanding issues had been satisfactorily dealt with.

It was also pointed out that the proposed drilling was to take place on the perimeter of a tailings facility, which is adjacent to an area of protected blanket bog.

However, Commissioner Gareth Kerr said that the main issue in the appeal was whether the drilling of exploratory boreholes within the existing mine was acceptable in principle.

He said that, on completion of the mineral exploration, the holes would be sealed to bedrock to prevent any dewatering of the site of adjacent bog.

“I do not consider that the proposed boreholes are likely to harm the protected blanket bog.

“These concerns cannot be sustained and none of the matters raised by third parties would warrant the dismissal of the appeal,” he added.

Three conditions have been imposed on the application, including that no works shall take place at any borehole during the bird breeding season between March and August inclusive, unless a survey is carried out no more than 24 hours before commencement by a suitably-qualified ecologist.