Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki is getting legal advice as they scope filing a Judicial Review against the decision made
by Ministers David Parker and Grant Robertson to approve land being used for a new tailings dump at Waihi.
“ We are seriously pursuing this option and have informed the Minister and Oceana Gold via our Barrister. The decision
which undermines the Minister of Lands Information earlier rejection of this plan is not robust. The Ministers have
taken the power from Eugenie Sage and with a very similar application they have decided to ignore issues including the
longterm economic cost benefit to the country, the permanent contamination of 178 hectares, the fossil fuels and
environmental risks. The first decision by Minister Sage looked at the modern risk context and the need for sustainable
employment, the second is a rubber stamp for the existing jobs without a plan for jobs in the long term or real national
benefit” says Watchdog Chairperson, Catherine Delahunty.
Ms Delahunty said that claims of $200 million of exports made no sense given that Oceana Gold ( an overseas company)
produces the gold and sends it with no added value to an overseas mint in Perth.” They make the profit not Waihi or the
the country” she said.
She said that Judicial Review was a very serious step for a voluntary group to consider but it was clear Oceana want the
new tailings so they can dig up more of Waihi and advance their plans to mine under the Conservation land at
Wharekirauponga.
“ Mining for gold is not the future for our region and the use of fossil fuels to extract a metal that should be
recycled from waste is one very good reason to reject this application. This decision by Ministers Parker and Robertson
needs legal scrutiny via Judicial Review.
We will be asking people who care about the environment, good economic planning and fair decision making to help us fund
this proposed action. The Government should be backing their Minister of Lands Information and protecting food producing
land, not facilitating this dinosaur industry to expand on unsound grounds” Ms Delahunty said