Coromandel Watchdog Challenges Government to Honour Promises as Prime Conservation Land Threatened.
Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki is furious that the Government’s failure to implement protections that have been promised
by one or more of the coalition partners for years has resulted in a mining application being lodged against prime
Coromandel Conservation land.
Oceana Gold has applied for a Mining Permit over more than 5000 hectares in the Wharekirauponga area, Conservation land
that is home to a range of threatened species including the worlds most threatened frog, despite alluding to such an
application being some years away.
“This is the consequence of Government inaction. We know this area must not be mined, that it is a significant area of
habitat, a significant landscape, the Government knows it too – they have said so often enough, and yet their inaction
has allowed this application to occur."
"We are calling on them to enact the protections now – extend Schedule 4 to Te Aroha, and formalise the No New Mines on
conservation land policy. This would be a new mine,” says Augusta Macassey-Pickard, spokesperson for the group.
Given how the system works, the permit is likely to be granted automatically, however the Access Agreement the company
has with the Department of Conservation would have to be renegotiated. “Simply, the Minister for Conservation must
decline access for mining. It is simply not appropriate in this area.”
As well as being prime DOC land, the area is a Significant Natural Area is the Hauraki District Plan – meaning that it
has been identified as very special. “And yet we are told that there are ‘checks and balances’ in the RMA that would
ensure that this is effectively harmless? Well, this SNA has already been fragmented and drilled, compromised. There was
no public notification of any of the resource consents to allow drilling here. It makes rather a mockery of the idea
that it’s all fine, the RMA will kick in and we will be heard” continues Macassey-Pickard.
“Our communities have been very clear –the whole country has been very clear. We don’t want to see our beautiful
conservation land mined. We don’t want the Coromandel Range undermined, and we will fight to protect it. Why is the
Government failing to honour their promises? Why are they not protecting this unique and significant area? Time they
honour their promises and act, fast.”
***ENDS***