Media Release

07-05-2013

Correnso Decision Sets Bad Precendent For Homeowners

“The decision to allow Newmont’s Correnso gold mine to go ahead opens the door for corporates to trample on the rights of homeowners and sets an extremely dangerous precedent in New Zealand,” said Coromandel Watchdog Coordinator Renee Annan.

“Thames residents could soon be facing the same threat given it has an application for an exploration permit over the township including the residential area. This is also of concern to the rest of Hauraki/Coromandel and in fact all residential areas of Aotearoa/New Zealand.”

“We sympathise with the residents of Waihi who feel trapped by the accumulative impacts of these ongoing projects and proposals. Newmont has constantly broken promises to this town and people are in a tough situation where they are living with the direct impacts of mining such as vibration, noise, dust and impacts on property values as well as the constant instability of a boom and bust industry.”

“People had to face inequitable hearings and their anecdotal experience did not have the same status in the court as the expensive experts that Newmont was able to buy and who seem totally unaware of what is really like to live in Waihi. This is grossly unfair as it’s their lives that are impacted by the consent and they bear the cost of Newmont’s profit. This means commissioners were not able to hear a balanced view.”

“New Zealander’s need to know that this the first time that a company has been givien permission to mine under people’s homes without their consent and this decision could affect us all.”

ENDS

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