2 days ago
Santana 'Flying Under Radar' To Avoid Scrutiny Of Controversial Open-Pit Mine
A local community group has reacted to newly uncovered information with alarm, claiming that Australian company Santana Minerals is intentionally 'flying under the radar' to try and avoid scrutiny around plans which will have 'deep impacts' on the neighbouring community. The company is planning 'any day now' to lodge a fast-track application for a huge, open pit hard rock gold mine that has neighbours and the Central Otago community 'deeply concerned.'
Sustainable Tarras, a group representing the small rural community adjacent to the proposed mine, says that it has uncovered multiple instances of 'very worrying information' which has further heightened their concerns about the experience and approach Santana is taking to this huge project. The company has never built or operated a mine before.
Resource consent application without public notification intended to bypass locals [1]
In recent days, the group obtained a resource consent lodged by Santana to Central Otago District Council, covering a workers camp and various mine buildings. 'We are concerned about many aspects of this application, but even more so about the way it has been lodged,' said Suze Keith, Chair of Sustainable Tarras. 'For starters, the application appears to be missing critical detail and would therefore be likely to be ruled incomplete by the council.' This comes afte r an earlier resource consent application was also ruled incomplete by CODC.[2]
'On top of this current application seeming incomplete, they've asked CODC for a 'Non Publicly Notified' consent. Given the huge impact on adjacent landowners and residents, that is outrageous. The least they could do is to share and discuss these plans publicly well beforehand and ask for a publicly notified consent path. All this from a company which says they have good standing in the community, and claim to have been engaging well.
Operating in breach of District Plan
Ms Keith says that the group has also discovered that Santana has likely been operating outside of District Plan Rules for years.
"The company has operated an industrial factory in Bendigo that we believe to be in clear breach of the district plan for several years. This plant is used to process their drill samples and coordinate drilling crews that work on the proposed mine site nearby. It is outrageous that this overseas company has such disregard for our local regulations, and we are awaiting a council ruling on this. This kind of behaviour is of huge concern if they are to actually be granted consent for the mine in the future.'
Mine related works announced at very short notice to commence tomorrow [3]
'And it gets worse,' she said. "We learned that Santana on Thursday communicated to the local community that they will commence significant works in the area, affecting landowners with road closures and explosive blasting activities, with some of these activities starting as early as Monday. Yes, tomorrow.'
'To add insult to injury, Santana does not even have council approval for the majority of these works,' She said. 'It's beyond arrogant - in fact it's a callous disregard for the locally affected residents and indeed our local district council.
Cavalier approach
Ms Keith cited these findings as examples of 'the cavalier approach that this tiny Australian mining company takes towards a huge environmentally impacting project in our Outstanding Natural Landscape in Central Otago.' She said that these are not isolated examples.
The company continues to ignore Sustainable Tarras' reasonable questions [4] and claims local community drop in sessions without sharing important details on the project's impacts. 'Collectively these incidents speak volumes about how this company chooses to operate in our district and what we can expect going forward.'
Broken promises to the community
Ms Keith cited a pattern of promises broken to the community, which are emerging with increasing regularity and increasing impact.
'Santana has broken its promise to make expert reports available as soon as these were completed', she said. 'They have announced to the stock exchange that certain reports are completed, and have made comments about how comprehensive they are, but despite our requests will not share them with us. Why would they not make this information public? What have they found out that they don't want to share?
'An earlier plan to provide proper accommodation for its temporary workforce has been walked back - now proposed to be a large multi year workers campground, with temporary shelters and camp conditions. A far cry from quality accommodation.'
Ms Keith also pointed to a promise to locals to seal the Thomson Gorge Road, which 'now appears off the table as well'.
Local community locked out, disillusioned and seeking answers
Ms Keith said that the most recent findings this week have brought the group's concerns to a head. 'Yet again we see worrying decision-making from Santana that only increases disappointment and distress: the company keeps us locals in the dark, they grossly understate the effects on the local community in their applications and they want to rely on flying under the radar to speed things along without scrutiny.'
"In the absence of Santana providing clarity and detail about the impacts of their plans to the local community, we ask that our district and regional councils keep us fully informed as soon as they receive any information or consider making any project decisions", she said. 'It appears to be the only way we may get to fully understand and have some influence over what will otherwise be a massive shock with likely huge and lasting impacts and community outrage in the wider district.'
References 1-4 above available on the Sustainable Tarras website - at the following links
Resource consent application without public notification intended to bypass locals - link:
Earlier resource consent application ruled incomplete by CODC - link:
Mine related works announced at very short notice - link:
The company continues to ignore Sustainable Tarras' reasonable questions - link:
