The Federal Court of Australia has overturned a section 10 protection order issued by former Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek in 2024. The order, made under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act, was intended to protect the headwaters and springs of the Belubula River in central-west New South Wales. The protection order had effectively halted the development of a controversial goldmine proposed by the mining company Regis Resources.

Regis Resources challenged the minister’s decision in court, arguing that the order was invalid and prevented the company from proceeding with its project. The legal dispute centered on the application of heritage legislation to the site, which the Wiradyuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation had sought to preserve due to its cultural significance. While the court has now set aside the minister's decision, the broader implications for the project's future remain subject to further regulatory and legal processes. The ruling highlights the ongoing tension between industrial development interests and the application of federal Indigenous heritage protection laws.