‘Worst case’ mine simulations fail to sway

It may be a matter of perspective whether the visual impact of a proposed gold mine on an outstanding Central Otago landscape is massive or minor.

Santana Minerals has released a series of visual simulations of what the public might see before, during and after mining at the Bendigo-Ophir site in the Dunstan Mountains.

The images were published ahead of Santana’s fast-track consenting application.

Santana chief executive Damian Spring said the company was aware the community wanted clarity about how the project would look.

"These are not glossy marketing images," he said.

"They are deliberately conservative, worst-case simulations that prioritise accuracy over aesthetics."

Sustainable Tarras spokesman Rob van der Mark said the group welcomed Santana releasing "one small part of its many completed expert reports that we have long been asking for".

"On first glance when viewed on a desktop screen rather than a mobile phone, the size of the area that will be affected looks considerable," he said.

"When dust and light pollution are also considered in the overall analysis, we would expect the impact to the area and local community to be significant."

Mr van der Mark said it was challenging to fully assess the impact of the planned mine on land classified as an outstanding natural landscape when images had not been accompanied by expert commentary.

Santana should release all the reports it had completed, he said.

The Central Otago Environmental Society said there was "more to this than meets the eye".

"The visuals provided are distant camera visuals constrained to the project area limited to the wider landscape context," the society said.

It suggested people could expect an industrial-scale operation and landscape desecration over decades.

"Rehabilitation will be cosmetic and token compared to what nature has currently gifted us for ecological stewardship."

Santana said the package illustrated the Rise and Shine and Shepherds Creek valleys before mining, the same areas during operations — reshaped landforms, visible pits, haul roads and processing areas at the height of activity — and after closure, which would consist of "reshaped landforms and stabilised pit areas, integrated into the natural contours of the Dunstan Mountains".

Simulations did not show future vegetation recovery or ecological restoration.

"The real landscape over time will include replanting and natural regeneration that will soften and green the visual footprint," Mr Spring said.

The Bendigo-Ophir project is the largest gold discovery in New Zealand in more than 40 years.

grant.miller@odt.co.nz