Case for mining

Waihi’s gold assets are something most communities can only dream about. A high value, non-perishable commodity which can be mined underground observing the highest environmental and safety standards.

Waihi’s community has always benefited from the intellectual capital big company expertise has brought to the town. It’s allowed us to maintain this industry for more than a century. This is not coal or oil that we are dependent on. It is gold.

And if it is not mined here it will certainly be exploited in other countries without the benefits of the regulation and standards we have in Aotearoa/new Zealand. This country will miss out on royalties and income tax necessary to pay for the health and education services we profess to value in our first world country.

Coromandel Watchdog has once again sprung into action opposing the current proposal to mine Wharekirauponga at Waihi. Has this protest group seriously considered what will happen to Waihi if gold mining of this world class resource is suddenly halted due to their actions? I’m assuming that stopping the project is the group’s ultimate goal. It is so easy to join a protest group, sign all the petitions and attend social meetings of like-minded individuals.

But protesting fervently must surely mean you have a better idea in mind to replace 20 per cent of Hauraki’s economy that comes from our gold assets. And that means coming up with something better than growing a few crops and running Farmer’s markets. My humble suggestion is that you stick to tackling climate change and go plant some trees. Always remembering to put the ‘right tree in the right place’ of course.

Dawn Sinclair