Waihi miners out of work ahead of next Christmas

Waihi residents' groups will take their fight against mining under the town to the Environment Court. Photo / Alan Gibson

Miners in Waihi will be out of work for several months' next Christmas before Newmont Waihi Gold's controversial Correnso mine starts production.

Last month, following a lengthy battle by affected residents, the Waikato Regional Council granted resource consents to Newmont Waihi Gold for its Correnso Underground Mine which will go under 44 Waihi homes.

Newmont Waihi Gold's Trio underground mine is scheduled to finish production in July or August 2014, however the Correnso underground mine is not anticipated to reach production until February or March 2015 - leaving a gap of several months during which there will be limited work underground.

Newmont Waihi Gold general manager Glen Grindlay said managers had been talking to underground crews for the last few months to advise them of the situation.

"We are doing everything we can to retain a skilled and specialised workforce, but in the end it may be that we have a gap of several months during which there will be no work for most of our underground employees.

"It is certainly in our best interests to keep our staff, and we will do everything we can to do so, but if Correnso does not start production until 2015 there will be very limited work for any underground staff."

Operations at Newmont's Martha open pit and the process plant would not be affected by the production gap and would continue to operate, with Martha open pit due to close in March 2016, Mr Grindlay said.

Earlier this month, Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty launched her Crown Minerals (Homes and Residences Exemption) Amendment Bill, which will prohibit the granting of mining permits for minerals in respect of land within 300 metres of residential premises.

The bill would protect people from having minerals companies disrupt their lives, Ms Delahunty said.

Newmont Gold has permits to mine underneath land with 1100 houses on in Waihi.

"Residents should not have to be put through an ordeal, possibly lasting several years, in an attempt to protect themselves against the noise, vibration disruption, and health risks from having mineral mining underneath their homes," Ms Delahunty said.