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.

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