Waihi mine clears last hurdle

The Favona mine near Waihi has cleared its last hurdle after Newmont Gold and the Hauraki District Council agreed on noise and vibrations levels.

The agreement means a trip to the Environment Court has been avoided.

About three million tonnes of ore will be extracted from the Favona Reef, meaning up to eight blasts a day.

A 2km, 5m-wide decline -- spiralling 250m below the ground -- will be excavated.

Preliminary work on the job began about two weeks ago.

Newmont has already spent $18 million on exploration and feasibility studies for the project, which lies 2km east of the Martha pit.

Council planning and environment manager Mark Buttimore said he was pleased with what had been agreed.

"The negotiations hinged around how many (blasts) they can have in sequence and how long the sequence can go for."

The effect of development and production blasts would be limited to 1mm of vibration a second at night time, Mr Buttimore said.

"It's not even discernible to people and is less than a car driving past, for instance," he said.

During the day the vibration limit would be set at 6mm a second, with the blast duration restricted to 18 seconds.

Noise limits were similarly low, he said.

The council would link with Newmont's monitoring and calibration systems, which were internationally and independently accredited.

Noise would also be monitored by the council fortnightly unless it received complaints, Mr Buttimore said.

Council chief executive Langley Cavers said mitigation plans were part of the negotiations, which would require the company to take action to lessen the effects of noise and blasting should they near the consent limits.

The plan would also contain a formal procedure on how Newmont should respond to public complaints.

"Council is pleased to have reached agreement on this matter that will allow the Favona project to proceed as the Martha Mine operation downsizes towards its eventual completion," Mr Cavers said.

Newmont Waihi Gold general manager Adriaan van Kersen said his company had appealed the original conditions imposed, but was pleased with the resolution that had been negotiated.

The agreement was endorsed by the Environment Court, he said.

- NZPA