Green MP Scott Willis’ opinion piece (ODT 27.1.26) demonstrates exactly why we need to keep him and his colleagues as far away from actual power as possible come November 7.
Mr Willis offers a scathing hit job on the proposed Bendigo gold mining project devoid of any facts or balance. Dramatically claiming the loss of ‘‘likely billions’’ of dollars of viticultural and tourism revenue without any actual proof. Dystopian portrayals of ‘‘Middle Earth Mordor’’ landscapes and arsenic leaching into aquifers.
Maybe, like myself, Mr Willis should visit the site and gain a proper understanding from the applicants about what actually is being proposed.
What is the actual economic opportunity? What are the environmental impacts? What are the mitigations being put in place, and what science and engineering underpins them?
These are all fair questions and ones that I have asked myself.
It is not unreasonable for the community to seek reassurance that an industrial site of this scale and consequence is able to comply with strict environmental criteria.
Ultimately it is not for us as politicians to decide (much to the despair of my colleague Shane Jones). That task falls on the independent fast-track approvals panel led by the highly experienced Judge Jane Borthwick.
The application from Santana Minerals comes to some 9500 pages; a vast swathe of technical information for the panel to digest and evaluate against New Zealand law.
This is not an exercise in just waving the proposal through.
Fast track is not a guaranteed approval. It is a streamlined one-stop-shop process that allows applicants for regionally or nationally significant projects a fair process and a clear line of sight as to the finish line.
It gives applicants the confidence in knowing that if they want to invest in growing the New Zealand economy, they might actually get a project to completion without years of red tape and litigation.
Getting anything done in New Zealand had become all but impossible, costing us collectively as a nation.
It is clear from Scott Willis’ article he was not arguing for a better process or stronger environmental protections — he was arguing against mining full stop.
In opposing Bendigo for purely ideological reasons, he and his fellow travellers are prepared to walk away from the extraction of an estimated 1.25 million ounces of gold; more than $10 billion at today’s prices.
Then there are the estimated 400 direct jobs and 350 indirect jobs in Otago. Permanent, well-paying jobs that New Zealanders (many currently based in Australia) are applying for in their hundreds.
To oppose the mine is to oppose the increased opportunity for Kiwis to get ahead in New Zealand’s highest-paying industry, with salaries averaging over $100,000.
The combination of royalties and PAYE taxes is estimated by Santana to be over $1.5b over the life of the mine. If today’s prices were to remain, that number would be north of $2b to the Crown, not to mention salaries, payments to contractors and suppliers, and dividends that would flow from profits to the 15,000 New Zealand-based shareholders.
In total, 75% of revenue is expected to be captured within the New Zealand economy. That’s real jobs for Kiwis and real money for the Crown that can help pay for hospitals and schools — infrastructure that New Zealand desperately needs to continue improving across the country.
The Greens would supposedly have us pristine, but poor. Their argument assumes Central Otago must choose between mining and tourism. That is a false and outdated dichotomy.
Tourism, viticulture and farming can, and do, co-exist. The proposed mine site will barely be visible to most, occupying but a tiny slice of Otago.
While the Greens’ opposition is of no surprise, what will be fascinating in the election year is where Labour stands.
Born of the mining movement on the West Coast over 100 years ago, it will be instructive as to how far they have strayed from those working-class roots.
Will they go into bat for good well-paying jobs, or will they side with the chardonnay socialists and not-in-my-backyard grandees?
Our position in New Zealand First is unambiguous. We will back the mining sector in Central Otago and elsewhere throughout the country.
The opportunities, in the South Island in particular, are immense, with gold in Otago and gold, thermal coal and rare earth minerals on the West Coast.
With the appropriate environmental pragmatism, mining is a major economic opportunity for our regions and one we will continue to champion amidst the ongoing racket from the opposition.
NZ First will always advocate for our regions, and mining contributes a crucial, long-term opportunity to increase provincial fortunes.
— Mark Patterson is a Taieri New Zealand First list MP.
