Media Release
30-12-2012
Watchdog on the Road to Save the Coromandel
Today Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki launched its summer roadtrip to celebrate the unique nature of this special holiday
destination and raise awareness of the threats posed to the area from mining. The Watchdog crew will be at markets and
festivals over the New Year period talking to holiday goers and locals about the threat to the Coromandel which has
never been so real. “Despite the widespread perception that the Coromandel is safe from mining due to a massive campaign
win in 2010 over Schedule 4, many areas in the Coromandel are still under exploration or prospecting license, including
Schedule 4 land,” said Watchdog coordinator Renee Annan. “There is over 80,000HA of land in the Coromandel under permit,
including forestry, conservation and private land.”
“Our favourite holiday destinations including Coromandel town, Whangamata, Onemana, Opoutere, Mercury Bay and the
Kauaeranga Valley are inundated with permits granted to corporations allowing them to search for minerals, namely gold
and silver,” said Ms Annan.
“The most recent one was granted over McGregor’s Bay in Coromandel Harbour, I have had many calls from concerned
residents who were especially surprised at the absence of any consultation with the community.”
“The economy in the Coromandel is based on a clean environment and visitors’ spending money in the region. A boom and
bust industry with high environmental risks such as industrial scale gold mining would not benefit the local communities
of Hauraki Coromandel.” Watchdog will be at Prana in the Global Village and then travelling around the peninsula ending
in Whangamata on January 6. To join us look out for with us over this time, call 0220181764 or visit our website www.watchdog.org.nz.
Ends