Emotion high over Trio mine proposal

"A fair bit of emotion" from submitters on Newmont Waihi Gold's Trio underground mining land-use consent application was acknowledged by the commissioners presiding over last week's hearing at the Waihi Rugby Club.
Chairman of commissioners Alan Watson - the town planner appointed to hear and decide the application together with environmental consultant Graeme Ridley and Hauraki District councillor Mary Carmine - said the obvious emotion reflected "a pretty serious process. Our job is to put all the views in balance."
The proposed Trio project under Union Hill would mine the Trio, Union and Amaranth veins about 500m northeast of the Favona underground portal, by tunnelling from the existing Favona decline.
It would extend mining there - scheduled to finish in 2011 - by about three years.
Speakers supporting the consent, almost all employed by or contracted to Newmont, emphasised the employment and economic benefits of ongoing mining in Waihi. People's livelihoods depend on it, some said.
Mine mill manager Kirsty Hollis said the benefits of mining to the community far outweigh the negative effects and include the provision of specialist skills such as first aid and ropes rescue.
New World supermarket employee Kayne Greenwood, the son of store owner Howard Greenwood, said mining impacts hugely on other businesses in Waihi, as would the potential loss of jobs if the Trio consent is unsuccessful.
Opposing speakers included several retired residents close to the proposed development and already affected by mining operations. Their wellbeing is at stake as much as that of mine workers, they said.
Gail Dragicevich of Barry Rd said that of 353 supporting submitters, she couldn't find addresses for 254. It appeared that none actually lived near the mine. Dust and vibrations have already affected her health and her husband's, she said; and when they bought their home 3 1/2 years ago, they were not made aware of ongoing mining plans.
Now they can't sell the house - and legally have to divulge to any interested buyer that it's in a mine-affected area. Compensation the couple receive under Newmont's Amenity Effects Programme is not an answer to their problems.
Fellow Barry Rd resident Graeme Jurkovich said he and his wife purchased their retirement property two years ago. They too have been unable to sell; and Mr Jurkovich is concerned that the effects of Trio as forecast by Newmont are peppered with words like "expected to be", "likely to be" and "anticipated". A modern world-class mining operation could surely get closer to the mark, he said. "Homeowners have a right to know exactly."
Patricia Miller of Moore St said nearby mining had weakened her health and her social and economic wellbeing. Despite her house being constructed to exacting standards in 1973 by her late husband, a builder, cracking to the basement occurred during dewatering, followed by structural alignment shifts. Now, heavy mine traffic uses Moore St almost daily.
All this applies to an area zoned residential, not industrial, mine neighbours said; and they would be even closer to Trio than Favona.
Mrs Carmine said the commission couldn't take into account drops in property values, only the causative physical effects of mining.
Real estate agent John Wilson nevertheless attested to falling values, and urged that before further mining is allowed, a "top up" system should be put in place - whereby Newmont, as in the past, would pay affected vendors the difference between the sale price and the market value of their homes.
Much evidence from consultants to Newmont and the council focused on a proposal to limit blasting vibrations to 5mm per second, rather than 6mm/sec as negotiated at Favona.
Newmont general manager Glen Grindlay said the latter has worked well at Favona, and a 5mm restriction would be onerous. Engineering adviser to the mining company Dr John Helig said the tougher limit would result in more blasts being required. "My opinion [is] that the number of blasts is a more important aspect in a person's amenity than the peak level of vibration."
Speaking by audio-link from Columbia, vibration adviser to the council Dr Cameron McKenzie recommended a 5mm/sec limit in accordance with the district plan. An assumption that conditions at Trio would be the same as Favona is unsubstantiated, he said.
Four days of hearing submissions wound up on Thursday, a day earlier than anticipated, due to a number of no-shows among the 75 people who asked to be heard (most of them supporters). Proceedings were adjourned until today after late comment was received from the Historic Places Trust.
The commissioners will release their decision - which will be subject to appeal - by January 26.
A Newmont application for a mining licence variation to allow Trio tailings to be placed on the existing tailings dam will be considered by Government.