Latest news with #ResourceManagementAct
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
Local Opposition To Central Otago Goldmine Conducts Public Meetings
Opponents of a proposed Central Otago goldmine have ramped up their campaign this week, with public meetings in Dunedin and Wānaka. Australian company Santana Minerals has signalled plans to seek a fast-track permit for a mine between Bendigo and Ophir, where it estimated it could extract gold worth $4.4 billion. Lobby group Sustainable Tarras Inc raised concerns about the mine's visibility on the landscape - particularly the inclusion of one large, 1000x850m open pit mine, three smaller satellite pits and a tailings dam. The group also expressed concerns about large quantities of cyanide being stored upstream of the Clutha River, and the potential impact the project would have on the region's tourism and viticulture. Chair Suze Keith said about 50 people turned up in Dunedin on Tuesday and more than 100 had registered for the meeting in Wānaka on Thursday night. Speakers included academics, environmental advocates and Labour Party MP for Dunedin Rachel Booking. Ms Keith said the idea of the meetings was "to make a bit of noise". "We don't think that a project of this scale and of its nature is well suited to fast-tracking decision-making," she said. "It might make the decisions come out quickly, but we've got 10 years of operation of this thing and then we've got the perpetual liability of a toxic tailings dam." Santana Minerals has held its own public drop-in sessions at Tarras and Cromwell to discuss the project, with two more planned in coming weeks. The company said the fast-track application aimed to accelerate decision-making, "but it did not override the requirements of the Resource Management Act or other applicable legislation". Keith said the process had fuelled concerns about limited public input. "People are really interested to understand where it is and what it comprises, because a goldmine is not just a mess of a open hole on the ground, it's got a whole lot of other moving parts to it," she said. "What are the implications for the immediate area and the wider area in terms of what it would mean if it does go ahead?" Satana Minerals said the proposed mine was expected to have low visibility, due to surrounding landforms, and environmental considerations were "central" to project planning. It said the processing plant would be located in the lower Shepherds Valley, "strategically sited to leverage natural topography, thereby minimising potential impacts from noise, light, dust, and visibility". Its tailings dam would be built to the highest safety standards, including resilience to a 1-in-10,000 year seismic event, it said, and the company described the work to support its consent application as "one of the most intensive and comprehensive studies ever conducted on the Dunstan Mountains". Several key ecological reports were still underway and the company planned to lodge its application "at the earliest opportunity".
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Effluent issue unresolved
The Shotover wastewater treatment plant has now discharged the equivalent of about 400 Olympic-sized swimming pools of effluent into the Shotover River and the consideration of its effects has yet to be assessed. The Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) applied for retrospective resource consent from the Otago Regional Council (ORC) for its emergency measures, but the application has yet to be notified and no hearing date has been set. When the QLDC began its "short-term solution" on March 31 it said it was discharging about 12,000cum of wastewater a day, or the equivalent of just under five Olympic-sized swimming pools. That was 81 days ago. The ORC has said under the Resource Management Act its staff need to confirm the application is complete, decide if further information is needed and make a formal notification decision, despite the QLDC's request the application be publicly notified. Regular sampling is done so any impacts on the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers can be monitored and the data is publicly available. But the ORC website confirms "questions have been raised about the impact of the discharge on the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers and what role dilution plays". "Any decision on if this discharge is appropriate and on effects moving forward will be assessed through any consents and compliance processes." University of Otago freshwater scientist Associate Prof Marc Schallenberg said the issues raised were interesting, but warned as well the discharge was "risky business". "This is a very interesting topic," Prof Schallenberg said. "One of the reasons it is interesting is that almost nothing is known about the ecological health of large rivers like the Kawarau. "Because it is so difficult to sample large and fast-flowing rivers, we know very little about them." Typically, assessments were based on water quality without any understanding about the effects on periphyton, invertebrates, or fish. In a river such as the Kawarau, it seemed these ecological components were of little perceived value due to the nature of the river. "However, in terms of downstream drinking water use and recreation, the water quality (especially faecal contamination, pharmaceuticals, etc) is quite important." He said the issue was outside his personal area of expertise, but he supposed the mixing, or dilution, that was happening in the river would be quite rapid and thorough not far downstream from the Shotover confluence. "I guess that by the time it gets to AJ Hackett [Bungy Centre], the sewage will be quite diluted. "But the final concentration of contaminants will depend on the concentrations in the effluent and the amount of water available for dilution. "It's all a messy, risky business where there are downstream users."
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Proposed Central Otago goldmine opponents ramp up campaign
By Katie Todd of RNZ Opponents of a proposed Central Otago goldmine have ramped up their campaign this week, with public meetings in Dunedin and Wānaka. Australian company Santana Minerals has signalled plans to seek a fast-track permit for a mine between Bendigo and Ophir, where it estimated it could extract gold worth $4.4 billion. Lobby group Sustainable Tarras Inc raised concerns about the mine's visibility on the landscape - particularly the inclusion of one large, 1000x850m open pit mine, three smaller satellite pits and a tailings dam. The group also expressed concerns about large quantities of cyanide being stored upstream of the Clutha River, and the potential impact the project would have on the region's tourism and viticulture. Chair Suze Keith said about 50 people turned up in Dunedin on Tuesday and more than 100 had registered for the meeting in Wānaka on Thursday night. Speakers included academics, environmental advocates and Labour Party MP for Dunedin Rachel Booking. Ms Keith said the idea of the meetings was "to make a bit of noise". "We don't think that a project of this scale and of its nature is well suited to fast-tracking decision-making," she said. "It might make the decisions come out quickly, but we've got 10 years of operation of this thing and then we've got the perpetual liability of a toxic tailings dam." Santana Minerals has held its own public drop-in sessions at Tarras and Cromwell to discuss the project, with two more planned in coming weeks. The company said the fast-track application aimed to accelerate decision-making, "but it did not override the requirements of the Resource Management Act or other applicable legislation". Keith said the process had fuelled concerns about limited public input. "People are really interested to understand where it is and what it comprises, because a goldmine is not just a mess of a open hole on the ground, it's got a whole lot of other moving parts to it," she said. "What are the implications for the immediate area and the wider area in terms of what it would mean if it does go ahead?" Santana Minerals said the proposed mine was expected to have low visibility, due to surrounding landforms, and environmental considerations were "central" to project planning. It said the processing plant would be located in the lower Shepherds Valley, "strategically sited to leverage natural topography, thereby minimising potential impacts from noise, light, dust, and visibility". Its tailings dam would be built to the highest safety standards, including resilience to a 1-in-10,000 year seismic event, it said, and the company described the work to support its consent application as "one of the most intensive and comprehensive studies ever conducted on the Dunstan Mountains". Several key ecological reports were still underway and the company planned to lodge its application "at the earliest opportunity".
1News
4 days ago
- Business
- 1News
Govt to give itself power to override councils on housing in RMA changes
The Government will take back power from local councils if their decisions are going to negatively impact economic growth, development or employment. In a speech to business leaders at the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Housing and RMA reform minister Chris Bishop has announced Cabinet will insert a new regulation power into the Resource Management Act. Before a minister can use the power they would have to investigate the provision in question, check whether it is consistent with the national direction under the RMA, and engage with the council. Bishop expected the power to only be necessary until the new planning system was in place, but said it was necessary when councils used their power to stop growth. Bishop on Wednesday released a discussion document on how proposed housing rule changes would work in with the government's resource management reforms. ADVERTISEMENT The Gordon Wilson Flats are now a step closer to being demolished. (Source: 1News) "Next year we'll replace the RMA with a new planning system that makes it easier to plan and deliver the housing and infrastructure New Zealand needs. "The new planning system is an enormous opportunity to create a planning system that enables and encourages housing growth," Bishop said. The document provided more details on six planned law changes: The establishment of Housing Growth Targets for Tier 1 and 2 councils New rules making it easier for cities to expand outwards at the urban fringe A strengthening of the intensification provisions in the National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD) New rules requiring councils to enable a greater mixed-use zoning across cities. The abolition of minimum floor area and balcony requirements New provisions making the Medium Density Residential Standards optional for councils. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Auckland's supermarket fire, Trump's threat to Iran, and how a smart watch could make you fitter. (Source: 1News) Last month ministers released proposed sweeping changes to rules covering councils' oversight for public consultation. ADVERTISEMENT Under the proposed Resource Management Act changes, granny flats of up to 70sqm, and papakāinga of up to 10 homes would be allowed without a consent on specific land zones. Papakāinga would also allow commercial activities of up to 100sqm, conservation activity, accommodation for up to eight guests, along with education, health, sports, marae, urupā and māra kai papakāinga of up to 30 homes would be considered a "restricted discretionary" activity, with those of more than 30 units becoming "discretionary" activities.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Saying Yes To Housing Growth
Minister of Housing Minister for RMA Reform New Zealanders have an opportunity to help shape the new planning system replacing the Resource Management Act (RMA) through public consultation on removing unnecessary barriers to housing growth, says Housing and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. 'New Zealand's house prices are among the most expensive in the developed world – a direct result of our current planning system making it too hard for our cities to grow up and out. 'Fixing our housing crisis involves fixing the fundamentals of our housing market - freeing up land for development and removing unnecessary planning barriers, improving infrastructure funding and financing to support urban growth, and providing incentives for communities and councils to support growth. 'Next year we'll replace the RMA with a new planning system that makes it easier to plan and deliver the housing and infrastructure New Zealand needs. 'The new planning system is an enormous opportunity to create a planning system that enables and encourages housing growth. 'Last year I announced the Government had committed to six major legislative changes to help free up land for housing and let our cities grow: The establishment of Housing Growth Targets for Tier 1 and 2 councils New rules making it easier for cities to expand outwards at the urban fringe A strengthening of the intensification provisions in the National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD) New rules requiring councils to enable a greater mixed-use zoning across our cities. The abolition of minimum floor area and balcony requirements New provisions making the Medium Density Residential Standards optional for councils. 'The discussion document I'm releasing today provides further detail on how these changes will operate in practice, and how they'll integrate into the government's resource management reforms. Feedback through the consultation process will be used to shape the development of the new planning system. 'The NPS-UD was a good starting point for strengthening housing growth in cities, but the government is committed to going further to help create competitive urban land markets and abundant development opportunities. The discussion document proposes a range of changes to strengthen the existing rules. 'As I indicated last week, the government is no longer proposing to make the MDRS optional for councils. This is because most councils (with three exceptions) have already changed their plans to include the MDRS, and so it would be inefficient and a waste of time and money to make them potentially change their plans in 2025 and 2026 when the new resource management system will go live in 2027. 'Bespoke legislative solutions have been designed for Auckland and Christchurch, reflected in the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill recently reported back to Parliament. In Auckland's case, it allows the Council to withdraw their existing plan change (PC78) and replace it with a new one, which provides the same level of capacity (or greater) in PC78, as well as strengthened density provisions around City Rail Link stations. 'The discussion document canvasses a range of important issues, including future development strategies and spatial planning, housing growth targets, responsive planning and rural-urban boundaries, intensification, enabling a mix of uses across urban environments and minimum floor area and balcony requirements. 'I encourage New Zealanders to share their views on these important issues by making a submission.' Public consultation on the Going for Housing Growth discussion document opens today at and will run until 17 August 2025. This is early non-statutory consultation and public feedback on will be used to shape the development of the new resource management system. Note:
