New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones says the proposed Bendigo-Ophir gold mine has taken too long to advance through the fast-track approvals process, blaming legislation that has taken on the form of a “constipated bureaucratic beast”.
On a visit to the mine site near Cromwell on Tuesday, he reinforced his support for the industry, taking aim at “woke, brittle, anti-mining mythology” as a group of local protesters rallied at the gate.
Jones told a crowd of staff, supporters and other local election candidates that he had previously visited the site about two years ago.
“I wasn’t to know that mythology, falsehoods and misinformation would mar what is a legitimate process i.e. securing the necessary consents so that our country can grow,” he said.
Protesters outside the Bendigo-Ophir mine site in the Dunstan Mountains on Tuesday.
RNZ / Katie Todd
Australian-based Santana Minerals claimed the mine would deliver billions of dollars in revenue and employ hundreds of people.
The company’s fast-track application, lodged nearly a year earlier, had been beset by processing pauses, requests for hundreds of pages of technical evidence, unresolved legal and Treaty hurdles, and pushback from conservation groups.
There had also been fierce opposition from some locals with concerns about potential impacts on the environment, native species, waterways and existing industries.
Chief executive Damian Spring said the company was committed to taking good care of the place its people called home.
“To date, we’ve put in $100 million behind our belief. We’re ready to keep going. We’re now less than 50 days from the panel’s expected draft decision. There’s a great deal [of] work behind us and hopefully much more ahead,” he said.
Shane Jones at Santana Minerals’ Exploration Base near Cromwell on Tuesday.
RNZ / Katie Todd
Jones’ visit was criticised by opposition groups opposed to the mine, who labelled it inappropriate and accused Jones of putting pressure on the fast-track panel.
Nine locals gathered to share their feelings in person at the mine gate, equipped with placards and loudhailers.
Chris Naylor, from Clyde, said he was particularly concerned about any risk of the tailings dam failing near the Clutha River, “poisoning everyone basically from Cromwell right down to Balclutha”.
“It’s privatising the profit and socialising the costs … Shane Jones is just prepared to poison the environment for short-term political gain. It’s just appalling,” he said.
Deb Robb said the country did not need more gold, particularly in a climate crisis, and Jones should stay clear of the consenting process.
“He shouldn’t be pushing this when it’s sitting before the panel now. Completely inappropriate,” she said.
A spokesperson for Sustainable Tarras said Jones’ visit had sent a clear message to the local community.
“He drove straight past some of the locals most impacted by the mine, to be schmoozed by the Australian mining company he champions, members of Santana’s online support group and other attendees at the private event.”
Protesters outside the Bendigo-Ophir mine site in the Dunstan Mountains on Tuesday.
RNZ / Katie Todd
Jones rejected any notion of undue pressure on the fast-track panel, saying his visit was to affirm his ongoing commitment to expand the mineral sector.
However, while paying a visit to a historic rabbiter’s hut on the mine site, Jones joked “if I don’t get the right decision out of this fast-track, that’s their new residence”.
Jones said when campaigning on fast-track improvements in 2023, he expected approvals to move “a lot quicker” than they actually had.
Politicians surrendering control of the process to the Environmental Protection Authority was “probably a mistake”, Jones said.
Later, at a public event in Cromwell, Jones’ pro-mining rhetoric continued with a commitment that New Zealand First would never tolerate the weakening of mining “in order to suit people’s beliefs as they seek to worship at the feet of the climate change idols”.
Before a packed room of about 150 people, Jones fielded questions on fishing, carbon credits, fast-track housing and AI.
Jones’ tour of Otago was due to continue in the coming days with more campaign events across the rohe.