golden link story

2 files changed, 58 insertions, 37 deletions

diff --git a/assignment3/background.tex b/assignment3/background.tex
index 398d073..dcc41d0 100644
--- a/assignment3/background.tex
+++ b/assignment3/background.tex
@@ -299,42 +299,39 @@ written submissions.''
 % "inadequate information may lead to poor outcomes: people failing to make submissions on matters affecting them + poorly considered appeals to the Environment Court"
 % "levels of knowledge and understanding are still low, representing a significant barrier to effective participation in all resource management processes."
 
-% TODO: case study: mining
-
-% "Golden Link" underground gold mine
-% ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-% 
-% - was publicly notified at the request of the applicant
-% - subsidence before hearing --- backfilling is a condition
-% - Distressed Residents Action Team (DRAT) and Waihi East Ratepayers Group Inc (WERGI) are citisen groups in opposition
-% - WERGI's ads in newspapers exaggerated threat (illustrated with pictures from the US), maybe bringing down property values all by themselves; see http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/news/groups-ads-dragging-property-prices-down/1633684/
-% 
-% Aug 24, 2011
-% Residents 'terrified' by bid for giant goldmine under Waihi
-% http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10747078
-% 
-% Jan 16, 2013
-% Homeowners say they should have been told about gold permit by real
-% estate agent.
-% http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10859418
-% 
-% May 7, 2013
-% http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10881982
-% 
-% May 8, 2013
-% Waihi mine
-% Council says positive effects significant, most serious negative
-% effect may be vibrations.
-% http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10882189
-% 
-% Operator's information:
-% http://www.waihigold.co.nz/mining/golden-link/
-% 
-% Hauraki Council's page on the golden link project:
-% http://www.hauraki-dc.govt.nz/news/Mining-issues/GoldenLinkRCAp/app.htm
-% 
-% Press release by watchgroup:
-% http://coromandelwatchdog.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/media-release-correnso-decision-sets-bad-precendent-for-homeowners-07-05-2013.pdf
+The case of the Golden Link Project and the Correnso Underground Mine
+application by Newmont Waihi Gold illustrates this.  The proposal for
+a new underground gold mine in the eastern part of Waihi, a town in
+the Hauraki district with a long history as a gold mine town, would
+directly affect about 50 homes below which the mining operations would
+take place. The application was publicly notified on August 30, 2012
+and 501 submissions were received until the end of the submission
+period on September 28, 2012. 120 of the submitters requested to be
+heard at hearings, including representatives of organised citisen
+groups in opposition such as the Waihi East Ratepayers Group Inc
+(WERGI) and Protection of Waihi Environment and Ratepayers (POWER).
+
+Despite the residents' many concerns about blast vibrations, noise,
+dust, property value loss, and physical damage to their property, the
+resource consent for the underground mine was granted by the
+council. In its decision report the council states that ``the positive
+effects of the proposal are significant'' while the ``adverse effects
+of the proposal will be minor'', the ``most significant adverse effect
+on amenity [being] vibration'' \parencite{goldenlink}. The evaluation
+of the positive effects of the proposal may have been influenced to
+some degree by Newmont's previous financial commitment to the
+community by funding local primary school and preschool facilities and
+providing \$400,000 for Waihi residents to spend on community
+amenities \parencite{goldenlink-appeal}.
+
+According to Green MP Catherine Delahunty, the residents did not have
+the financial means to provide expert evidence at the hearings to
+demonstrate that their concerns are justified. Without expert
+testimony their experience with two other underground mines in the
+region (although not located directly underneath their homes) could be
+dismissed as anecdotal \parencite{goldenlink-delahunty}. Both resident
+groups have announced they would be appealing to the Environment
+Court \parencite{goldenlink-appeal}.
 
 
 \subsubsection{The value of submissions from the public}
diff --git a/assignment3/references.bib b/assignment3/references.bib
index 8513a8e..3643e88 100644
--- a/assignment3/references.bib
+++ b/assignment3/references.bib
@@ -143,4 +143,28 @@ Change Institute (IGCI), Second PUCM Report to Government}
   urldate={2013-06-19},
   author={Johnson, A.},
   publisher={Dunedin, New Zealand: Centre for Impact Assessment Research and Training, University of Otago},
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
+
+@report{goldenlink,
+  title={Decision by the independent commissioner's hearing panel},
+  author={{Hauraki District Council}},
+  year={2013},
+  url={http://www.hauraki-dc.govt.nz/news/Mining-issues/GoldenLinkRCAp/NWG-CommissionersDecision.pdf},
+  urldate={2013-06-02}
+}
+
+@online{goldenlink-delahunty,
+  author = {{APNZ}},
+  title = {Consent granted for Waihi residential gold mine},
+  url = {http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10881982},
+  date = {2013-05-07},
+  urldate = {2013-06-05},
+}
+
+@online{goldenlink-appeal,
+  author = {Jamie Morton},
+  title = {Waihi mine fight going to court},
+  url = {http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10886625},
+  date = {2013-05-28},
+  urldate = {2013-06-05},
+}