Actor Sam Neill has launched a scathing attack on a proposed Central Otago gold mine, labelling it “toxic”.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, the Central Otago resident pledged to fight the giant open cast mine Santana Minerals is planning to dig in the Bendigo hills near Cromwell.
“It's unbelievable, really. Unbelievable,” Neill wrote.
“Why would you visit this kind of environmental catastrophe on to a region that is thriving, that is in the midst of what many of us think of as a renaissance? The future of Central Otago lies in its bike trails, vineyards, cafes, in good farming practice, and a diverse and growing population of people, young and old, who genuinely care about the future of where we live.”
Neill said life in the area would be permanently affected by the mine, with the risk of arsenic and cyanide pollution.
It was certain that if the mine was approved via the Government’s controversial fast-track process, other mining proposals in the area would follow, he said.
Neill’s criticism follows numerous other prominent artists opposing the project.
Artists Sir Grahame Sydney, Dick Frizzell, Gregory O’Brien, Nigel Brown and photographer Bruce Foster were among those who donated works, to raise funds for the main group opposing the mine, Sustainable Tarras.
Most of the $35,000 of art works have already been sold, with proceeds helping the group fight the mine proposal by funding expert reports and legal costs.
The mine, dubbed the Bendigo-Ophir project, would see four open pits, the largest being 1km wide and 200m deep, which would not be filled in. Underground mining would also take place in the project’s second stage.
There would be a 1km-long processing plant where rock was crushed and gold leached from it using up to 1900kg of cyanide a day; and a 2km-long tailings dam where toxic slurry would be stored in perpetuity.
The mine would operate around the clock, with an estimated life of 14 years.
Other gold mines in New Zealand, such as the country’s largest, Macraes, near Palmerston, have had their life extended by many years.
Santana says it is conducting exploratory drilling beyond Bendigo, across to Omakau and the Maniototo region of Central Otago, with an eye to further mines.
Many other mining companies have exploration permits throughout Central Otago, and Santana’s project is considered a test case for renewed mining in the area, as gold prices rocket.
Critics argue arsenic dust released from the rock as it is blasted and crushed, could contaminate the surrounding land, and cyanide may leach into aquifers and waterways, such as the adjacent Clutha River.
But supporters point to the economic benefits of the project, with Santana saying it will generate $6.75 billion in revenue; pay more than $1.4 billion in royalties and tax; and create hundreds of jobs.
Santana also points to 40% of its shareholders being New Zealanders, along with most of its workforce.
The company has been indicating all year its application for fast-track approval is “imminent”, but has yet to formally lodge the application.
Under fast-track legislation, only very limited input from other parties is permitted ‒ from iwi, councils, DOC, and affected neighbours ‒ and they have 20 working days to respond to the application.
Decisions are intended to be made by a panel within six months, meaning Santana could begin building its mine early next year, with the first gold produced in 2027.
Meanwhile, the owner of one of the stations the mine will occupy, has decided to sell 10% of his farm to Santana.
John Perriam of Bendigo Station became famous when a rogue merino, Shrek, was discovered in 2004, with its 27kg fleece shorn on national TV.
In September, Perriam told The Post he believed the mine was an extension of the area’s gold mining history and would benefit the local community.
But he insisted he was going to keep his farm, while allowing Santana access to mine it.
However, last week, Santana announced Perriam had agreed to sell 800ha, about 10% of the station, to the mining company, for $55 million.
It follows the owners of the other farm where the gold mine will be, Ardgour Station, agreeing to sell most of their property to Santana for $25m, earlier this year.
Both transactions need approval from the Overseas Investment Office.
Perriam said he had intended to only lease the land to Santana, and not sell it.
But seeing the “rigorous process that new age gold mines have to go through, I have decided to stand aside and put trust into the New Zealand Government process”.
Santana Minerals has been approached for comment.
