Sustainable Tarras

Sustainable Tarras Concerned Tarras locals fighting the threat of a huge, open pit fast track mine in Central Otago. Please add your voice in opposition.

Further info, our socials, and sign up to add your voice in opposition to this mine: https://linktr.ee/sustaintarras

In the Post overnight: Cultural values would be destroyed by controversial Central Otago gold mine, panel hears.[Santana...
10/06/2026

In the Post overnight: Cultural values would be destroyed by controversial Central Otago gold mine, panel hears.

[Santana] has acknowledged the project will have “significant enduring effects” in part of what is classified as an Outstanding Natural Landscape. [...] The comments came on the first day of experts giving evidence in front of the Fast-track panel.

[...] Kā Rūnaka expert said the mine’s effects would be permanent and could not be addressed with conditions.

[... She] said all the experts agreed the effects on mana whenua values would be unavoidable and permanent. She said Santana’s landscape assessment was guilty of “methodological failure”, was “materially deficient”, and didn’t grasp the importance of bi-cultural values.

[...] The comments come at a time when disagreements between Santana and Kā Rūnaka have been exposed, along with racial comments by Santana’s chairman, Peter Cook, that “shocked and disappointed” Kā Rūnaka.

[...] Central Otago District Council expert Stephen Brown said the change in the landscape would “remain evident for a long time to come ... There is no possibility of reinstating the site, because the changes will be so fundamental.”

Brown said it wasn’t possible for the mine area to be covered in native vegetation or even pines after mining finished, given the dry landscape and environment.

In this respect, it was very different from rehabilitating mines on the West Coast, which were isolated and surrounded by bush, Brown said.

[...] While almost all surrounding areas of Central Otago were modified, the Dunstan Mountains were not modified in the same way. [...] If you severed part of that mountain chain, “then you do so in a way that challenges the integrity of the mountain range”, Brown said.

You can read the article in full here: https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/361019963/cultural-values-would-be-destroyed-controversial-central-otago-gold-mine-panel-hears

Let's stop this mine: start by adding your voice to the thousands of people who have already at https://eepurl.com/jsaheU

Other ways to help here: https://sustainabletarras.com/nomine/

Today, the next in a series of "concurrent evidence hearings" is taking place in Wellington, and available via livestrea...
09/06/2026

Today, the next in a series of "concurrent evidence hearings" is taking place in Wellington, and available via livestream online.

Today's hearing focusses on Heritage.

The link for the livestream is in the comments below.

Let's stop this mine: start by adding your voice to the thousands of people who have already at https://eepurl.com/jsaheU and you can also find out other ways to help here: https://sustainabletarras.com/nomine/

Encourage friends and family to do the same. And please like, follow and share widely on social media.

We also have our art sale running, with 100% of proceeds going to our fighting fund to oppose Santana's application. More info here: https://nogobendigo.substack.com/

Update: “Concurrent evidence hearings” taking place over next 9 days.Starting today, there is a series of full-day heari...
09/06/2026

Update: “Concurrent evidence hearings” taking place over next 9 days.

Starting today, there is a series of full-day hearings in Wellington, which are also being streamed online.

Experts are being asked to assist the Fast-Track Panel by answering questions around key aspects of their areas of expertise. Those experts are also being cross-examined by legal counsel, including from Sustainable Tarras.

The hearings start at 930am daily, and are live streamed (link in comments). If you are in Wellington, you can also attend. The video recordings should also then be published on the Fast-Track website. On the next page is a list of topics by date.

Let's stop this mine: start by adding your voice to the thousands of people who have already at https://eepurl.com/jsaheU and you can also find out other ways to help here: https://sustainabletarras.com/nomine/

Encourage friends and family to do the same. And please like, follow and share widely on social media.

We also have our art sale running, with 100% of proceeds going to our fighting fund to oppose Santana's application. More info here: https://nogobendigo.substack.com/

The GISTM - or Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management - sets the highest mining standard for management of tail...
08/06/2026

The GISTM - or Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management - sets the highest mining standard for management of tailings dams. This is the standard that Santana has refused to adopt for the Bendigo-Ophir mine.

We can see why this would be a problem for them. Even right at Principle 1, they would fall down.

Principle 1 requires: Respect the rights of project-affected people and meaningfully engage them at all phases of the tailings facility lifecycle, including closure.

From our own experience, we know that Santana have not met this standard. Many of us are based in the mine-adjacent community. Some of us even live on the road leading up to the mine.

Santana’s engagement with project-affected people has not been respectful, it has not been meaningful, and it has not been sufficient.

No wonder they don’t want to sign up to the GISTM!

Let's stop this mine: start by adding your voice to the thousands of people who have already at https://eepurl.com/jsaheU and you can also find out other ways to help here: https://sustainabletarras.com/nomine/

Encourage friends and family to do the same. And please like, follow and share widely on social media.

We also have our art sale running, with 100% of proceeds going to our fighting fund to oppose Santana's application. More info here: https://nogobendigo.substack.com/

Santana's mine is positioned at headwaters of the Clutha Mata-au. If we get this wrong, all of those living downstream f...
08/06/2026

Santana's mine is positioned at headwaters of the Clutha Mata-au. If we get this wrong, all of those living downstream face unacceptable risks. There are 22,000 people drawing water from the Clutha and connected aquifers [see google map].

We simply can’t impose a long term risk on our human health and the health of our regional economy for the short-term gains of an Australian mining company. Because based on overseas experience, if something goes wrong, it could have horrific and permanent downstream impacts.

For the detail focussed, our workings:

Approximate population of key settlements downstream of the mine, excluding rural areas and smaller towns

Pisa Moorings 980
Cromwell 7,470
Clyde 1,200
Alexandra 5,850
Earnscleugh 840
Roxburgh 640
Millers Flat 90
Lawrence 510
Balclutha 4,460

Total population: 22,040

The true number is likely to be significantly higher.

Let's stop this mine: start by adding your voice to the thousands of people who have already at https://eepurl.com/jsaheU and you can also find out other ways to help here: https://sustainabletarras.com/nomine/

Encourage friends and family to do the same. And please like, follow and share widely on social media.

We also have our art sale running, with 100% of proceeds going to our fighting fund to oppose Santana's application. More info here: https://nogobendigo.substack.com/

In response to Santana's claim of a "past record of compliance", we asked to what extent Damian Spring was involved in C...
07/06/2026

In response to Santana's claim of a "past record of compliance", we asked to what extent Damian Spring was involved in Coalgate Mine compliance and environmental issues which occurred at the time Mr Spring was Bathurst Resources' General Manager Domestic Operations and Resource Development.

It's now been exactly 12 months since we asked this question. With several reminder prompts. Still no answer.

Source: Sustainable Tarras letter to Santana Minerals, 8 June 2025 (via email)

Let's stop this mine: start by adding your voice to the thousands of people who have already at https://eepurl.com/jsaheU and you can also find out other ways to help here: https://sustainabletarras.com/nomine/

Encourage friends and family to do the same. And please like, follow and share widely on social media.

We also have our art sale running, with 100% of proceeds going to our fighting fund to oppose Santana's application. More info here: https://nogobendigo.substack.com/

Much is being made of the impact Santana claims it will have on the economy of Cromwell and Central Otago. The gold mine...
07/06/2026

Much is being made of the impact Santana claims it will have on the economy of Cromwell and Central Otago. The gold mine, they say, will bring prosperity to the area.

But does this claim stack up?

According to an article published in The Post in February, no.

“... while mining industry has the highest salaries of any industry in New Zealand, with a median weekly earning of $2407 (agriculture $1309; health $1343, manufacturing $1408), it hasn’t seen the streets of towns where it occurs paved with gold.

Stats NZ figures based on the 2023 census show the median personal adult income of the main mining areas remains well below the national median of $41,500.

Waihī is $25,500; Palmerston, where the country’s largest gold mine, Macraes, is based, is $32,600; and the West Coast is $32,700.”

Read the full article here: https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360943210/new-zealands-mining-boom-fabulous-fortune-or-fools-gold

Let's stop this mine: start by adding your voice to the thousands of people who have already at https://eepurl.com/jsaheU and you can also find out other ways to help here: https://sustainabletarras.com/nomine/

Encourage friends and family to do the same. And please like, follow and share widely on social media.

We also have our art sale running, with 100% of proceeds going to our fighting fund to oppose Santana's application. More info here: https://nogobendigo.substack.com/

From an article in The Post a few months ago: “One of Santana’s information boards at the Tarras drop-in session outline...
06/06/2026

From an article in The Post a few months ago: “One of Santana’s information boards at the Tarras drop-in session outlined gold’s uses, including jewellery, mobile phones and even space exploration. But the reality is, most gold is used for adornment or sits stored as bars in subterranian safes and vaults worldwide.”

Read the full article here: https://www.thepost.co.nz/.../new-zealands-new-gold-rush

Let's stop this mine: start by adding your voice to the thousands of people who have already at https://eepurl.com/jsaheU and you can also find out other ways to help here: https://sustainabletarras.com/nomine/

Encourage friends and family to do the same. And please like, follow and share widely on social media.

We also have our art sale running, with 100% of proceeds going to our fighting fund to oppose Santana's application. More info here: https://nogobendigo.substack.com/

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