DRAT Meeting Asks Lots Of Questions

Posted by Gold FM on 11/09/2011

The atmosphere wasn't entirely friendly at the Friendship Hall in School Lane last Friday night. The DRAT (Distressed Residents Action Team) organised meeting started at 5.30 and School Lane began filling up with cars from 5.15 pm.

We were told that the meeting was called so that residents concerned about future expansion plans being outlined by Newmont Waihi Gold could talk face to face with each other, Newmont representatives, and sitting and aspiring political candidates.

Newmont's External Affairs Manager Sefton Derby spoke on behalf of Newmont Waihi Gold and he was seated amongst Green MP Catherine Delahunty, Scott Simpson from National, Hugh Kininmonth from Labour and New Zealand First's Kevin Stone.

Hauraki District Councillors were also invited and Max McLean was the lone Waihi Ward councillor who attended the meeting. One member of the public commented on how disappointing it was that no councillors were present, and Max McLean stood up to let her know that he was there, and interested in the issues. He also said that until the RMA process begins with an application received from Newmont, Council could do nothing.

The layout made it difficult to see or hear from the back of the hall, but it seemed that the issue of most concern by those who felt they'd be affected, was house value. The resale of properties, insurance costs, or homes being unable to be insured because of mining was a recurring concern.

"Buy my house"! was a strong view point aired with several hands raised to say that's what they wanted Newmont to do after a show of hands was asked for by Catherine Delahunty.

One man present said he was worried that his children had lost their inheritance, as at his age he could not now afford to move or repurchase somewhere else and with his property value diminishing he felt helpless.

Another comment from the floor was, if Newmont was to get consent to mine below Waihi East residential properties, what's to stop them from doing the same in the West, North or South; where will they go next?

Vibration, backfill, subsidence and water quality were also hot topics along with the seemingly forever changing timeline for mining activities ceasing in Waihi.

The assertion was made that if you dig a hole, the earth that came from it can't be fitted back into the same hole. You always have some left over so there has to be gaps and potential subsidence.

Sefton Derby had a bit of a job answering questions, as while he was trying to respond to one question another one was being asked. He did say that Newmont can only mine what they know is actually there and to put their timeline out further would create problems.

Whether it was arranged or not Catherine Delahunty seemed to take the lead role in chairing the meeting.

A media article that we spotted on Friday morning, prior to the meeting being held, stated that the purpose of the meeting was that DRAT wants a policy to force Newmont to buy any properties within their mining license zone.

Other residents we've spoken to who did not attend the meeting gave us the impression that they felt it would be in their best interests to deal as individuals, and talk to Newmont on a one to one basis, rather than have group representation.