Opponents to Foulden Maar write open letter to Mayor Dave Cull

24 May 2019

Opponents to a proposed diatomite mine at Foulden Maar near Middlemarch in Central Otago have written an open letter to Mayor Dave Cull asking that he immediately withdraw the Dunedin City Council ‘Letter of Support’ to the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) endorsing Plaman Resources’ application for approval to buy ‘sensitive land’.

The letter, which can be viewed on the Save Foulden Maar website or as an attached document, was sent on Wednesday 22 May. It is supported by more than 7,600 people from New Zealand and abroad who have signed a petition to preserve Foulden Maar in its entirety and in perpetuity for the benefit of future generations.

"In light of the misleading and incomplete information given to the Mayor by Plaman Resources, it is not enough that Mayor Cull has asked for the letters to be set aside. We need him to formally withdraw it for his action to have any impact," said Andrea Bosshard of Middlemarch.

"The mayor has been misled once already. Why give Plaman the chance to do this again, particularly given the public outrage to their proposal and the desecration of this unique site?"

As of 10am on Friday 24 May, the letter has not yet received a response from Mayor Cull.

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