Within nine weeks, he has more than 8000 supporters, all keen to sing the praises of the proposed mine.
It had grown quickly and he was not surprised the cause had found support.
‘‘A friend and I got together and said that we were only hearing one side of the story and we needed to hear a balanced view,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s just been all about all the negative stuff about it. We wanted a more balanced view. I knew a lot of people who were in favour of it.’’
So he formed a social media group, known as the Santana Mine Supporters Group, and over the past nine weeks has gained 8350 members.
He was a firm backer of the mine, which has the potential to mine 1.1million-1.25m ounces of gold over a 10 to 14-year life, with a potential value between $NZ4.4billion and $6.75b.
‘‘I was brought up in Cromwell. I was born in Cromwell. And the thing about it is, before the hydro-electric development, things were pretty grim in Cromwell.
‘‘There wasn’t much happening. Young people left this town in droves because they couldn’t get a job here. And the thing about this, this will provide jobs, and modern mining practices now are pretty clean.
‘‘At the end of the day, I think these people are moaning about nothing.
‘‘The piece that they’re going to take down one hill, just one hill up there, and you’d think it was the end of the earth the way they’re going on about it.’’
He said the group was moderate and could see there had to be balances around things. But it did not have to go all one way.
A few people who had joined had made some disparaging remarks early on, but every comment now was moderated, Mr Sanders said.
The mine would add to the attraction of Cromwell and Central Otago.
‘‘Cromwell’s doing all right. There’s nothing wrong with the way Cromwell’s going at the moment.
I don’t have a problem with that. I have a problem with, at the end of the day, if you have all your eggs in one basket and the basket falls over, it’s not going to go too good, is it?
‘‘I don’t have anything against cherry orchards or vineyards. I’ve actually worked on a cherry orchard in the past. But I think you need diversification and you need multiple job opportunities for people.’’
He said no-one could pay a mortgage on nine weeks’ work on an orchard or vineyard.
He was puzzled why everyone in New Zealand thought it was fine young people would leave the country and go and work in the mines in Australia but had a problem having a similar mine here.
‘‘It’s a Kiwi thing. You go over there, you earn the big money, and you get a job in a mine. Well, a lot of kids are over there.
‘‘I’ve got a son-in-law and a daughter over there, but I’d love them to come home and get jobs back here in New Zealand.’’
The group was pleased to be recognised by the fast-track panel processing the application, inviting the group to comment on the submission.
‘‘... I hope that our voices are heard.’’
