Coromandel Watchdog has written to all candidates in the local body elections on the mining issue. Below the letter is a table of candidates with a green tab indication showing who has responded positively. Please take account of this in casting your vote.

LETTER SENT TO CANDIDATES IN THE LOCAL BODY ELECTION FOR MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS OF THE T.C.D.C.

2 September 2004

Dear Candidate

I am writing to you on behalf of Coromandel Peninsula Watchdog, which represents the views of thousands of Coromandel ratepayers and other New Zealanders who are adamantly opposed to any precious metal mining in the Thames-Coromandel District.

You will be aware that a recent Environment Court decision, however, has again raised the spectre of gold-mining in the Thames-Coromandel District.   You are no doubt also aware of the Council’s shameful last-minute decision to acquiesce to the proposals by the mining industry to have mining activities re-classified under the District Scheme.   Such a sudden reversal in policy may have had a significant influence on the Environment Court ’s decision.

Local residents expended considerable effort and energy throughout the 1980s and 1990s to ensure that the Coromandel environment was not again ravaged by mining, and they believed that their elected Council would continue to support their position.   Regrettably, recent events have demonstrated that this is not the case, so Watchdog has decided to write to every candidate putting themselves forward for election as Councillor or Mayor, inviting them to sign the attached pledge and to clearly articulate their views on the way forward for a new Council on the gold-mining issue.

Watchdog intends to ensure that ratepayers are aware of the positions of candidates on mining, and in order to do this effectively, I should be grateful to receive your reply by Friday 10 September.

Please send your views on mining (in no more than 100 words), and your signature on the attached pledge, should you wish to sign it, to: Coromandel Peninsula Watchdog Inc.

PLEDGE BY CANDIDATES IN TCDC ELECTION  

I pledge that, if elected:

• I shall support, and if necessary initiate, a reversal of the recent change in Council policy on the classification of mining in the District Plan;
• I shall support the Council’s appeal against the recent Environment Court decision on the classification of mining in the District Plan;
• I shall support the classification of mining as a Prohibited Activity in the T.C.D.C. area and I shall oppose any efforts to allow precious metal mining, whether underground or on the surface.

(N.B. Classification means “definition of and activity status for”)

Pledge responses are below and (S) means more on the statements page

Code key: Green; signed pledge
Blank; no response
Blank +S; did not sign but provided or has made statement.
Red; negative response
Pink; elected candidate

Notice-board

Headlines

Week commencing 21 February 2005 Paku Bay Marina Environment Court hearing commences at Tairua. View Paku Bay Preservation Society newsletter and  other information on this critical case.

Media release - 3rd October, 2004. ECO

Watchdog pledge - Candidate responses

Candidate's mining statements

Ethics? - what ethics!

The difference between Quarrying & Mining

current mining  background

Watchdog press release

Environment Court decision pdf(526kb)

Recycle Shop seagull trust formed

Coast Rd Transit plans.

History with Transit

Mark & Nedilka roast Coffee as well as Miners -- from the Thames Organic Co-op shop or below