After announcing the intention of an independent Public Inquiry in June 2020, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon is moving forward with the plans after being satisfied that sufficient detail, consultee responses and representations have been provided.
Minister Mallon added: "I have therefore directed that my officials formally request a Public Inquiry to be held by the Commission. The Inquiry will consider a number of related applications including the gold mine minerals planning application and the two associated powerline applications. It will also consider the proposed abandonment of the Crockanboy Road, known locally as the 'Green Road'.
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"The handling of the Public Inquiry phase will be a matter for the Commission which will include providing all parties with the arrangements.
"Once the inquiry is completed I will carefully consider the findings of the Inquiry before reaching a decision."
The application for Dalradian Gold Mine was revised in 2019 with the main changes including the relocation underground of the primary crusher building with an extended conveyor system, provision of new ore sorting machinery, a modification of the haul route, removal of cyanide from any part of the processing of the ore and changes to extraction and processing quantities. The amended proposal also results in the transport of concentrated material off-site for export rather than final on-site processing.
