Media Release

23-10-2013

Newmont’s Got the Jemmy Under Waihi Houses

The Correnso decision is a disaster for the town of Waihi and the wider Hauraki/Coromandel area,with Newmont holding the jemmy under people’s homes,Watchdog has said today.

“Despite various conditions being put in place that wouldn’t have been there if the appeals process had not happened the fact is that there is now a legal precedent for mining under homes without landowners consent,” said Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki Coordinator Renee Annan. “There is no way that this could be acceptable to us –or residents of Waihi.”

“The impacts of this mine will be much larger than just on those who have land within the consent area. People are experiencing vibrations, noise and dust from the existing mines that don’t go directly under residential areas and property values across the whole town are impacted.”

“But it also means that no‘side of town’ is safe from underground mining. This decision is very dangerous for the rest of Waihi- the tip of the iceberg, with exploration permits all around the existing mining permit. Newmont has shown that where they find gold they will fight to get it out at the expense of resident’s quality of life.

It also has implications for other areas in the Coromandel and throughout the country which could face similar situations in the future.”

The mining permit that the Correnso is part of covers 1100 properties, there is further exploration permits held by Newmont covering most of the residential area of Waihi. Property values have been reported to drop already, before mining has commenced.

“People who have worked hard to own their properties are now facing state-supported undermining of private assets.”

ENDS

Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki

protecting the Coromandel Peninsula from mining

www.watchdog.org.nz

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