Around the country, communities are asking questions and challenging gold mining projects put forward under the unwelcome new Fast Track legislation. Down in beautiful Central Otago, local opposition is strong as Santana Minerals seek to progress their proposal for the Bendigo-Ophir gold mining project.
The local group Sustainable Tarras are doing their best to pump the brakes on the fast-track process and continue to rally support from the community. Just like Siren Gold, Santana Minerals are on track to submit their mining application in weeks ahead – and could have consents granted later in 2025.
Sustainable Tarras spokeswoman Suze Keith says there is critical information that Santana Minerals has that is missing from the public domain. “They reported to the Australian Stock Exchange that they had completed all their reports at the end of last year. So we’ve asked for those reports and we haven’t seen them.
“Any sort of financial data associated with that application was redacted, so, it’s very difficult for us to be able to fully understand the benefit to the local economy and also the cost to the local economy.”
Read the full story at – https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/tarras-locals-oppose-major-gold-mining-development-in-their-backyard/FL4LPOZZHVCKTG2SKOROTWZNBY/
Sustainable Tarras spokeswoman Suze Keith