Newmont Agrees With Watchdog
For once Newmont Waihi Gold agrees with Coromandel Watchdog - the Tui mine site is an environmental scar that should
never happen again. (“Latest figures show true extent of toxic legacy” <#bmk18> (4.27.10)) However that’s where the agreements on this subject start and finish.
Coromandel Watchdog’s comparison of the Tui mine site and Newmont’s modern Waste Rock Storage facilities in Waihi is
designed to promote fear of mining amongst the public. “Once again Coromandel Watchdog has shown that they have little
understanding of modern mining, engineering techniques, design, legislation and bonding requirements,” says Newmont
Waihi Gold’s external affairs manager Kelvyn Eglinton.
“Attempting to compare the Tui mine site with a modern Waste Rock Storage facility is akin to comparing Henry Ford’s
Model T to today’s Ford Falcon. There is little comparison of the Tui situation with the Waihi facilities.” Tui was
designed in the late 1960s, on a hill, with no RMA consents, no bonds set in place or regulatory monitoring. The
majority of the drainage occurs from the remaining open mine stopes as opposed to the tailings. The modern Waihi
facilities have vastly superior design standards, consent requirements, building materials, clay linings, underground
drainage, water treatment and environmental bore monitoring. They are built to withstand the largest predicted
earthquake and rainstorm for this region. Underground mines are required to be tight filled and bonds are held by
regulators until they are satisfied the environmental rehabilitation is complete.
“We have seen other alarmist statements from this group about landslides behind Thames, collusion with Government, the
number of mines on the Coromandel, open pits outside Whangamata, inaccurate tax calculations – the list of radical and
false claims continues.” says Eglinton.
“The upside for the mining industry is that generally interested New Zealanders are querying these statements and coming
to us for the facts. All statements made by Newmont can be witnessed and substantiated. I once again invite any group or
individual to contact us so we can clearly explain and show people modern underground mining in action.”
ENDS