• The Federal Court found the Section 10 Declaration affecting part of the McPhillamys Gold Project to be legally invalid.
  • Regis expects the environment minister to redetermine the application and is progressing an alternative development approach that avoids the declaration area.
  • Ian Macliver joins as an independent non-executive director and chairman-elect, to succeed James Mactier at the close of the 19 November 2026 AGM.

Regis Resources Limited (ASX:RRL) has told the market that the Federal Court has found the Section 10 Declaration affecting part of its McPhillamys Gold Project to be legally invalid. In a separate announcement, the company set out board changes, including a new independent director who is nominated to become chair. The court announcement was released on 14 October 2026 and the board announcement on 15 October 2026.

The court ruling

According to Regis, Justice Stellios handed down judgment in the judicial review of the declaration, which was made under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cth) by the former federal environment minister, Tanya Plibersek. The declaration was made in August 2024 and affects a portion of the approved McPhillamys site near Blayney in central western New South Wales. Regis describes the project as one of Australia's largest undeveloped open-pit gold projects.

Managing Director and CEO Jim Beyer called the judgment a significant and welcome step forward, said it vindicated the company's position since August 2024, and said more than two years had been lost.

What happens next

Regis expects the current environment minister, Murray Watt, to redetermine the Section 10 application, taking into account the judge's findings. The company says it intends to participate actively and hopes the process is completed in a timely manner. It has not given a timetable, and the announcement does not say what outcome the redetermination will reach.

Because redetermination could be prolonged or unfavourable, Regis says it is progressing an alternative development approach. That approach co-disposes filtered processed ore and waste rock in a single Integrated Waste Landform and avoids the declaration area. The company says it was detailed in the pre-feasibility study released on 19 June 2026.

Project and group figures

Regis reported an Ore Reserve for McPhillamys as at 31 May 2026 of 56 million tonnes at 1.1 grams per tonne of gold for 1.89 million ounces, all in the Probable category and reported for an open pit. The Mineral Resource at 31 December 2025, on a 100 per cent basis and inclusive of the Ore Reserve, is 70 million tonnes at 1.0 gram per tonne for 2.26 million ounces.

For the wider group, attributable Mineral Resources at 31 December 2025 were 209 million tonnes at 1.2 grams per tonne for 8.28 million ounces. Group Ore Reserves at the same date were 49 million tonnes at 1.2 grams per tonne for 1.965 million ounces.

Board succession

In the second announcement, Regis said Chairman James Mactier and non-executive director Fiona Morgan, who have each served about ten years, will retire at the close of the Annual General Meeting on 19 November 2026. Ian Macliver joins as an independent non-executive director with immediate effect and is nominated as chairman-elect. He would succeed Mr Mactier at the close of that meeting, subject to election by shareholders.

The company describes Mr Macliver's background as including chairing MMA Offshore Limited from 2020 to 2024 and Western Areas Limited from 2011 to 2022, and independent chair of Emeco Holdings Ltd. He is a chartered accountant. Regis says its search for a replacement for Ms Morgan is well advanced.

Risks and open points

The ruling does not itself restore any approval or fund development, and the announcement gives no construction timetable, cost or funding plan. The outcome of the redetermination is uncertain, and Regis acknowledges it could be prolonged or unfavourable, which is why it is advancing the alternative design.

Confirmed milestones from the announcements are the redetermination by the minister, whose date is not stated, the annual general meeting on 19 November 2026 at which the chair succession takes effect, and the appointment of a successor to Ms Morgan.