Statements by candidates in the TCDC election
(Some statements have been abridged as they were well
over the size requested)
Mayoral
Philippa Barriball
I have made it more than clear that I do not support
mining operations in our coastal zone, and will continue to support the
Council appeal to the High Court.
If mining is to be prohibited across the peninsula in its entirety then
a variation to the District Plan needs to be undertaken. Such a variation
will require extremely robust evidence supporting the reasons for prohibiting
this activity, and very clear evidence making the distinction between
environmental effects caused by the the mining activity in comparison
to other similar activities.
In my opinion we are currently mining our soils of precious nutrients
just as we are mining our natural water sources. As a nation we must
become more aware of how we treat all natural resources for the sustainability
of this and future generations. ...
(did not sign pledge).
Brljevich,
Tony
As a representative of the people my view on mining
will be consistent with that of the majority of residents and ratepayers.
At this point that is clearly against mining.
I also believe that council should spearhead the fight
against mining as many individuals have paid too much in the past.
I also support mine waste clean-up operations eg Jacks
Point. - Tony Brljevich.
Sally Christie
Where would the peninsula be if 25 years ago the community
hadn't said "No to Mining" on the Coromandel? I have been involved for
twenty years including the successful battle to stop the Monowai mine
at Waiomu. This in fact was how I originally commenced my political
career on the Thames Community Board representing the then Coast Ward.
Has the mood of the community changed? No! By far the majority of people expect this community and its Council to be the guardians of this special place and to protect it from this particular industry.
As the new mayor I will work with all parties to ensure that the legacy we leave for the next generations is a peninsula where people can live, work and play in an environment free from the effects of mining.
Let's stop this wave before it gathers any more energy. The human and financial costs to defending this land from individual applications are a far too higher price. We have held our ground before and together we can do it again!
Sue Edens
My interest in politics was launched during my involvement
in an anti-mining campaign of the late 80s. This was when a mining company,
Barrack Mines, filed a prospecting application over our farmland at Opito
Bay and the immediate district. After successfully aiding the cause of
the "Coromandel NO mining" movement, i was later given the opportunity
to actively contribute to the Coromandel Peninsula by being elected as
a District councillor.
If elected Mayor i will be seeking a clear direction from the people
of the Coromandel Peninsula on this issue and what action we should take.
Jim Mackereth
As a landowner who has invested in three coastal farms
and has spent a lot developing them into attractive properties with extensive
kauri plantings the prospect of mining companies riding rough-shod over
them is not acceptable.
I look long term and mining is short term for long term pain. The future
is tourism, aquaculture, horticulture, forestry , and being an attractive,
desirable place to live, work and relax in.
Mining divided the community fifteen years ago, will do nothing for people
or property values. So any half-baed peanut brain knows mining is a backward
step.
Dal Minogue
I don't need to sign a pledge to make my views known
about mining. My position is as follows:
1. I do not support mining activity anywhere on the Coromandel Peninsula.
2. I will initiate the strongest possible challenge to reverse the recent
change in Council policy on the classification of mining in the District
Plan.
Removal of mine tailings from the Coromandel harbour for processing outside
the TCDC does not constitute mining. I support this proposal provided
economic viability is established, environmental concerns are rigorously
addressed and a precedent not set allowing mining operations per se.
Some other candidates do not support this this thinking. Why not? It
is a proposal that will finally allow Coromandel residents the chance
to fix their harbour. Under the conditions outlined above, no fair-minded
person should deny the people of Coromandel that opportunity.
Councillors - West Ward
Harry Parke
The environmental costs of mining are enormous and the
economic benefits to the people of the Coromandel will be minimal.
I am opposed to all precious mineral mining within the TCDC area. If
elected, I will endeavour to regain the Prohibited Activity status for
such mining, as set out in the district Plan.
If we regain the prohibited status, I will actively oppose any application
for any specified area. In any
case, failing that, I will work to impose extremely high environmental
standards on all applications that are lodged.
Strat Peters
I firmly believe that the vast majority of residents and visitors to
the Coromandel Peninsula do not see mineral mining as part of the long
term future of this Peninsula. It is a shame that this issue is back.
I do not know the circumstances that persuaded council's last minute
decision to have mining activities re-classified under the district
scheme and even if a consultant on the issue was working on their
behalf they should have been looking at the bigger picture of our
uniqueness in terms of the special place in which we live.
John Rennie
You may tell voters what you like, but I am nobody's
boy and do not respond to your tactics.
I did not realise that a sanctimonious, moralising and fundamentalist
version of Bush's Republican Party had a cell in the Coromandel. ...
(did not sign pledge).
David Taipari
There are a number of levels that I see the mining issue
relating too. Firstly on a personal level I do believe that there are
a number of concerns in relation to the environment that mining can have
an effect on, such as waterways pollution, landscape issues, heritage
protection and disposal of residual materials. In this regard I believe
today there is no place for mining on the Coromandel Peninsula unless
those matters are addressed.
However, I must be cognisant that mining, established initially in 1862
in Coromandel and 1867 in Thames enabled the construction of the various
towns, which in the case of Thames was instigated by my great-great-grandfather
Wirope Hotorene Taipari. So as much as mining is a problem in terms of
mineral extraction processes it has also been of benefit - which 140
years on - we still receive.
In respect of this I propose a question to Watchdog; if all matters of
environmental concern were genuinely addressed would Coromandel
Watchdog alter their current position of "adament opposition" to mining?
In respect of the above I am fully committed to undertake as an elected
Councillor;
1. Initiate a district-wide referendum on whether mining whether it be
land or sea/water in the TCDC area is supported or not.
2. Upon the result of the referendum I would fully commit to advocating
for such result and to providing the necessary implementation of policies
and statute that would uphold that result. (abridged) ...
(did not sign pledge).
East Ward
Roger Harwood
There is one sure thing about our life in the Coromandel
- and that is how much it is destined to change.
All along the eastern Peninsula, especially Whitianga, that change is taking
place at a rapid pace.
As a contractor of 23 years I understand an important principle in ensuring this
change will provide the greatest benefit to all who care for this unique and
special place. It will be easy to live by my word since I know there is no substitute
for local knowledge.
The people who have lived through 20 years of storms have a far greater understanding
of their environment than any amount of costly consultants, and as such they
deserve to be heard with the same degree of respect.
We are diverse communities but one constant is our sense of values. Our gold
goes to South Africa, our best timber to Malaysia, and the tailings dam and polluted
harbour left behind remains for us. Do we want to live in a village or a Hopper
brothers sandpit? I say the wild places are precious and we must conserve them.
(abridged)
Noel Hewlet
Added "mineral" to classification of mining in the pledge
he signed.
Ann Lewis
I have always been opposed to precious metal mining
in the Coromandel - I had a "Coromandel NO Mining" sticker long before
we moved here permanently. Mineral mining and quarrying are not the same
- one involves rock containing heavy metals, the other does not. The
argument that we lose cheap, locally quarried, roading metal if mining
was banned is a nonsense. All Councillors should be involved in any future
decisions about mining, not just those on the Policy & Planning Committee.
Duff Oliver
I totally oppose mining for precious metal anywhere
on the Coromandel Peninsula. The Council must address the problem to
allow quarrying for road metal.
Derek Preece
These are my views:
I am not in favour of precious metal mining on the peninsula, and I
fully appreciate the excellent achievements of the Peninsula Watchdog
group.
I believe the natural assets we have above the ground are infinitely
more valuable than those under it. I am looking to support policies
which will protect and enhance our environment, for the long term.
There is no gain in precious metals, except short-term for the mining
company.
Coromandel harbour:Providing the proposed dredging of Coromandel harbour could be
undertaken without environmental damage, I would not oppose a community
decision to that effect.
...
(did not sign pledge).
COMMUNITY BOARDS
Coromandel-Colville
Keith Stephenson
I arrived on the Peninsula in 1964 when native timber
was thought to be ok to cut and be milled, and mining was ok as long
as it wasn't happening on the Peninsula.
Both activities are well past their use-by date in NZ. i hold no shares
in mining licences or native timber stands and will if necessary stand
voluntary in the front line once again to protect what has to be our
duty as custodians.
People need to be well informed. I totally support Watchdog stance. ...
(did not sign pledge).
West Ward
Mark Bridgman
I am seeking re-election as a member of the Thames Community
Board. I am opposed to any precious metal mining in the Thames-Coromandel
District. I have lived on the Peninsula since 1967 and as an Environmental
Health Officer I spent most of my working life in protection of the environment
and the prevention of pollution of same. ...
(did not sign pledge).
Robin Plummer
I have tramped over much of the Coromandel and you get
an impression of a network of holes, mines and discarded mine equipment
over much of the area.
I am opposed to any mining on the Peninsula and have stated that in my
leaflet.
1. We have very short steep catchment areas prone to erosion as we have
seen with recent flooding.
2. The risk of contamination of streams from mine pollution which is
still happening today with some streams.
3. We have a large conservation area on the Peninsula which must remain
untouched.
4.The pristine nature of our Peninsula environment with pockets of ancient
trees/plants and wildlife must be preserved.
5. The unsustainable nature of mining - we must search for sustainable
alternatives including of course tourism.
6. I believe the 'new gold of the Coromandel' is Heritage and Tourism
and we need to make every effort to preserve and promote these.
In summary,
I support the original council policy on classification of mining in
the District Plan and the appeal and believe the RMA needs to be reviewed
to reflect community concerns and wishes. (abridged) ...
(did not sign pledge).
Mercury Bay
June Bennett
I oppose any gold mining or precious metal
mining on the Coromandel Peninsula for the following reasons:
(1)
This practice went out years ago and would be a backward step to benefit some
people for a short term gain while destroying our pristine environment by causing
toxic waste with pollution to our land and waterways.
(2) Mining is a threat to our lucrative Tourism industry by not only destroying
unique area but also having the effect of ruining tourist numbers who visit here
which would ultimately destroy our life-styles. I do not see mining as
part of our long-term planning for the future.
(3) Mining is a seperate issue for roading and quarries excavating and should
not be included in the Council District Plan or Council activities.
Alison Henry
The recent change in Council policy on the classification of mining must be challenged. Work of hundreds of people years ago established protocols which protect the Coromandel Peninsula from mineral mining activity. The arguments accepted after enormous community involvement are the same now as they were then. Changes to this status without community consultation is not acceptable.
The most significant industries here are tourism and aquaculture - neither is compatible with mining. The NZ Tourism Board spends millions of dollars promoting our "Clean, Green" image. Good business enhances and builds on this promotion to bring more visitors and prosperity to this, one of NZ's key tourism destinations. Aquaculture likewise benefits from the clean environmental image we fought so vehemently to retain.
Mineral mining puts these industries at risk, would not deliver the benefits they provide, and would effectively kill the proverbial golden goose - the unique environment that supports us.
Gordon Reynolds
I do not believe that mining provides any satisfactory
outcome for the communities it most effects. It is almost always the
cause of major environmental damage and with no organisation in NZ responsible
for environmental protection, such industries are effectively uncontrolled.
NZ's environment management process has almost no accountability, as
it rests with local authorities who have little understanding of the
mining process and less committment to monitoring environmental damage.
Alan thomas
I have studied the pledge form and find the wording
is not appropriate for a Community Bd Candidate.
However I can assure you that I am and have always been opposed to all
types of precious heavy metal mining on the Peninsula.
I can also assure you that I will support the Council's appeal against
the recent Environment Court's decision on the classification of mining.
... (did not sign pledge).
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