Letters to the Editor: mining, inflation and Queens Dr

A closed Queens Dr. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH

Methinks that Mr Cook doth protest too much

In his opinion piece (ODT 28.1.26) Santana Minerals front-man Peter Cook protests seven times that Santana intends nothing outside of New Zealand’s rule of law. Surely, he’s emphasising this to counter the by-now obvious fact that there’s practically zero social licence locally for this mining project to go ahead.

And isn’t this fast-tracked project only legal following recent regulatory changes?

Does he really imagine he can speak for everyday New Zealanders? What a chops this man has to deride wealthier opponents of the project for being well-housed, well-fed, and already wealthy.

Mr Cook must have some extraordinary expertise but his people skills clearly aren’t worth much: "get over it" Otago.

Parts per million

Green MP Scott Willis’ opinion piece (ODT 27.1.26) is, on the face of it, sounds a bit alarming.

It is stated that "... something like 210,000,000 tonnes of rock would need to [be] extracted, smashed and processed ..." during Santana's mining operation at Bendigo, most of which will remain on-site in the tailings dam.

It is also suggested "... toxic wastes including arsenic and nearly two tonnes a day of cyanide ..." will (presumably) be left in the tailing dam.

Interestingly, cyanide is not listed as one of the 12 "priority contaminants" with New Zealand’s soil contaminant standards in the NESCS (National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health).

Further, for a contaminated land project (specifically the Mapua remediation case), the soil acceptance criteria set by local consent and referenced in Ministry for the Environment guidance included is (see table below).

Even if none of the cyanide used for processing the ore is recovered, based on this simple analysis, the concentration of cyanide retained in tailings dam does not constitute a significant health risk.

Savings lives costs

The editorial (27.1.26) commented on the inflation rate of 3.1% and compared it to the 7.2% of four years ago. Some context might be helpful.

Compared with the rate in the US, at that time, of 9.1%, the UK at 11.1% and the euro at 10.6%, the New Zealand rate was relatively low. While many are critical of the government's handling of the pandemic, the results compared favourably with much of the world both medically and financially.

The call of the West echoed by fellow resident

As a long-term resident of the West Harbour I echo the comments of Jarred Hodson (ODT 29.1.26). This council needs to stop wasting ratepayers’ money at every turn.

In my area the burns and zigzags — which most inner city areas do not have — are now large weed patches and the lichen on the path in our street has only ever been sprayed once in 50 years that I can recall.

Our bus service is virtually non-existent unless one wants to walk down some six to eight blocks to the main road (and back up with any purchases).

West Harbour residents are not going to drive all the way into town, and then find a parking spot, in order to walk through a closed-off section of a road through the town belt. I can only assume the intended users are those who live in the immediate area.

Feedback is likely to be very limited, most Dunedin residents have neither the means nor the inclination to be involved in the trial, and it appears commenting is to invite the ire of some councillors.

Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: letters@odt.co.nz