By ELIZABETH BINNING
An American geologist has risked legal action by breaking a confidentiality agreement and publicly claiming that Waihi Gold ignored his warnings that part of the town might collapse.
Dr Chris Buckley made his claims in front of hundreds of Waihi residents at a public meeting this week.
He said he did a study for the mining company in 1999 and predicted that part of the town would collapse within two years.
Last December, a Waihi family were lucky to escape injury when a sudden ground collapse swallowed their home.
Three young children were rescued from the wreckage by firefighters.
Thirteen families had to move from their homes then, and this week a report identified another 174 properties at risk.
Although many residents believe current blasting and dewatering of mining areas have affected the ground's stability, the report, prepared by the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, found no link between the subsidence and Waihi Gold's operations. But Dr Buckley has dismissed the finding as a whitewash.
He said yesterday that he was speaking out about his own research in the public interest.
"What I have done is very unethical. I will probably pay a huge penalty for it."
Waihi Gold general manager Dave Ingle yesterday confirmed that Dr Buckley did some monitoring work for the company but would not comment further until the work was reviewed.
It was too soon to say if the company would take legal action for breach of confidentiality, he said.
Dr Buckley, a geologist with a background in seismology, said the institute report consisted of "low-level science" and targeted the wrong areas.
He said his 1999 research, conducted after subsiding ground forced the relocation of several pensioner flats, proved that the current mining operations were causing problems.
His study was conducted over nine days and identified 115 ground collapses, of which 112 occurred when mining was being undertaken.
Dr Buckley said he contacted Waihi Gold at least a dozen times after the December collapse, but the company did not return his calls.
He decided to speak out when the institute report did not include his findings.
"By forcing the issue as I have, if the mining company wants to attack me legally, at least the report will come out."
Dr Buckley also questioned the need to move dozens of families.
Most of them would never be affected, and a couple of days' study would allow the real risks to be assessed, he said.
"The most shocking thing you can do is force an elderly person out of their house."
The institute yesterday stood by its report. Chief author and engineering geologist Dick Beetham said the investigations and writing were done in accordance with best international practice.
The institute had reviewed all the available information and had been unable to find any direct evidence that current mining had contributed to the slumping.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from New Zealand
Waitangi Tribunal turns, 50 but there’s no cause to celebrate - John Tamihere
The Waitangi Tribunal turns 50 - happy birthday to you.