Coromandel Residents Protest Against Mining On DoC Land

Around one hundred people will today tramp into dense bush on the Coromandel Peninsula to protest the current drilling for gold within the Coromandel State Forest Park. The site is in the Parakiwai Valley just south of Whangamata. The protest is being organised by Earthwatch Whangamata with support from Coromandel Watchdog.

“The drilling site is within a Conservation Department designated "special place", and was given this status because of its high conservation, biodiversity, recreational and landscapes values. The area is the habitat for many native species including endangered frogs, and native birds. It contains mature forest, and is in the headwaters of a river that flows into an estuary at Whangamata beach" said Rosemary Segedin spokesperson for Earthwatch Whangamata.

The Parakiwai Valley is a highly-used recreational area for local and overseas tourists. DOC are spending a million dollars upgrading the tracks because of the tourism potential which will stimulate the local economy.

“We are deeply concerned that drilling is happening in this valley and adjacent to the Otahu Ecological Reserve.”

"The drilling area is only a few hundred meters south of the Otahu Ecological Reserve, an area retained in Schedule 4 to be free from mining. Newmont Gold has publicly stated that they would consider mining under this Schedule 4 land, from outside the boundary. This is in total opposition to the public view expressed last year when 40,000 people marched up Queen Street to protect all Schedule 4 land from mining,” said Rosemary.

“We wish to give a clear message to the mining company and the government that the Parakiwai Valley has such significant conservation and recreation values that it should not be compromised by any mining activities.”
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