Barrick suspends lake gold drilling Barrick Gold says it has removed heavy equipment from the Lake Cowal gold project near West Wyalong in central New South Wales.

The Land and Environment Court has granted the temporary injunction sought by Aboriginal traditional owners who say the area is part of a sacred site for Wiradjuri people and that artefacts have been damaged.

David Tucker, from Barrick, says the multi-million dollar development will generate 300 jobs in construction and 200 jobs during mining.

He says Barrick hopes to get the drill rigs back on site once there has been an assessment of relics that have not previously been identified.

"We have fully complied with the court order and the rigs have been removed from site.

"We would like to emphasise, though, there has been no finding by the court that Barrick has breached the National Parks and Wildlife Act."