‘You shall go no further’ says determined community to mining giant

In Waihi today, local community group Coromandel Watchdog have thrown an ‘unwelcome party’ for multinational mining giant Oceana Gold, on their first day in office after buying Newmont’s gold mining operation in New Zealand. A delegation of 30 members of the group, from across the Coromandel, delivered a collection of old computers, along with a letter stating their determination to prevent the company’s planned expansion of gold mining in the Coromandel / Hauraki area, recommending recycling e-waste as a less destructive way of extracting gold.

Spokesperson for Coromandel Watchdog Ruby Powell said that in 2012 the United Nations University published findings on e-waste that stated one ton of e-waste contains 40 to 50 times more gold than a ton of gold bearing ore.

Powell said the exploration and prospecting permits that Oceana took over from Newmont today cover over 40,000 hectares and include areas close to Whangamata, Hot Water Beach and Hahei, all of which are vibrant holiday hot spots, with growing tourism industries.

“The last thing these communities need is a toxic mining industry,” Powell said. “It is obvious to us that Coromandel communities don’t need more destructive gold mining, which would damage the integrity of our fragile lands and waters, as the nearby Waitekauri Golden Cross mine did only a few years ago.”

“Gold mining is not only highly toxic environmentally with a huge carbon footprint, but it’s also nonsensical economically for all but a few. We don’t need to dig more gold up from underground. With what is already above ground, and tucked away in underground vaults, there is more than enough to fulfill society’s real needs.”

The letter also condemns Oceana’s current lawsuit against the El Salvador government for refusing a mine that threatened the country’s last drinkable water source and the notion that a corporation’s rights to make a profit could compete with basic human rights, such as access to drinking water.

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