Tracking vibration payments

NWG has developed a website that is linked with its automatic vibration monitoring network. This will allow qualifying residents who have internet access to check the history of blast-related vibration at their property, and the resulting payment. No similar system is available for noise because it has to be monitored manually.





The Newmont Waihi Gold freephone is attended 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


0800 NEWMONT (0800 639 6668)

The Amenity Effect Programme

Newmont Waihi Gold (NWG) operates the Favona and Martha mines close to a number of residential properties in the Waihi community. The mining licence and resource consents place very stringent limits on noise, vibration and dust.

Consent limits are designed to be protective of amenity (quality of life) for most of the Waihi community for most of the time. However, NWG recognises that people living in some areas may, from time to time, experience reduced amenity due to levels of noise, vibration and possibly dust generated by mining activities, despite the mining operations being conducted within consent compliance limits.

Although NWG has no legal obligation to do so, the new Amenity Effect Programme (AEP) aims to compensate those households for loss of amenity.

How are the areas defined?

NWG analysed all noise and vibration monitoring during 2007 and community feedback over a longer period. The analyses identified zones where households are most likely to experience 'more than infrequent' effects of noise and vibration from the current operations.

Within these zones there are 129 properties.

What criteria were used?

With monitoring equipment used according to consent conditions -

For noise:

Properties downwind in predominant wind directions (south-west and north-east) with wind speed of between 2.5 and 5 metres per second that results in mine-derived noise levels exceeding 50dBA.

For blast vibration:

Average of two or more blasts per month with ground vibration equal or greater than 1.5 millimetres per second in magnitude (Peak particle velocity).

For dust:

No specific provision is made for dust effects as the daily quantities generated are too small to measure and there is no usable method of measuring mine-derived dust in isolation of dust from other sources.

As dust and noise effects are both exacerbated by wind, it is assumed that a dust effect could occur wherever there is a noise effect. The noise payments therefore include dust effects.

How will people join the programme?

NWG representatives will be in contact with the residents of eligible properties over the coming weeks to discuss the programme and enrol those interested in joining. Participation is voluntary and residents will be able opt in at any time. An eligible resident may initially decide not to join the programme but may still join later on. Also, anyone who joins may opt out at any time.

Residents who believe they should be eligible but have not been invited to join the AEP can ask to be included. NWG will undertake monitoring over a period to assess eligibility and will extend the programme to any additional properties that meet the qualifying criteria.

How is payment calculated?

Payments are based on NWG's monitoring results and a schedule of rates based on magnitudes of vibration and noise. Rates have been set so the average annual vibration and noise payments per resident are approximately equal.

The average annual payment for all qualifying residents, excluding the initial enrolment payment, is around $1,000. Individual payments will range from less than $100 to more than $4,500.

The initial round of qualifying residents will receive payments backdated to 1 January 2007. This date approximately coincides with the start of the south wall stability cutback in the Martha pit, production in the Favona underground mine and an initial trial period on the AEP with six properties.

In a nutshell:

The AEP is an informal arrangement between NWG and residents living in affected areas.

The programme offers:

  • a one-off enrolment payment of $500 to residents who are eligible.
  • additional six-monthly payments based on measured effects monitored and recorded by NWG during the preceding six months.

When will payments be made?

The first payments will be made in April 2008 for the 2007 calendar year. In August 2008 qualifying residents will receive payments for January to July 2008. Payments will be made every six months based on monitoring results for the preceding six months.

What about rental properties?

Tenants in rental properties within the eligible zones will receive AEP payments, not their landlords. This is because tenants are experiencing effects on their amenity from those properties.

Who else is not eligible?

Businesses are not eligible to join the AEP. Neither are NWG employees nor tenants in properties owned by NWG.

Goodwill gesture

The AEP is offered as a goodwill gesture to those living close to NWG's existing operations. The AEP applies for any future mining project as well.

The AEP is an innovative programme and could well be unique. The programme is not modelled on any similar schemes that may exist elsewhere.

In implementing the AEP, NWG seeks to achieve specific objectives. Only experience with the programme will prove the degree to which the objectives are met. NWG will review the programme from time to time and may modify it to better meet its objectives.