Northparkes Mines (NPM) is a copper-gold mine located approximately 27 kilometres (km) north-northwest of Parkes in central west NSW (Figure 1).  NPM is a joint venture between Rio Tinto (80%) and the Sumitomo Group (20%).

NPM has been operating since 1993 following the grant of the original development consent (504/90) by the NSW Land and Environment Court. Since that time, six additional development consents have been issued.  Combined these approvals allow for the development and operation of two open cut mines (E22, E27), one underground block cave mine (E26) and associated works (E26 Lift 2 North).

NPM was granted project approval (06-0026) under Section 75J of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 in February 2007 in accordance with the supporting document Environmental Assessment Northparkes Mines – E48 Project.  This approval permits the ongoing operation of existing activities and the underground E48 extension.

The E48 extension was suspended on January 13th 2009 due to the current global economic crisis and will be reopened when conditions improve.