In Summary
- The Amenity Effects Programme acknowledges that mine-related effects such as noise, vibration and dust have the potential to have an effect on people's quality of life (amenity).
- The AEP seeks to redress the imbalance for those Waihi residents whose amenity is reduced by mine-related effects.
- NWG recognises that operating within consent limits bears no relevance for people if they are suffering a loss of amenity.
- AEP is not about complying with consent limits; it goes beyond that.
- Residents living within defined areas close to Martha and Favona operations will receive payments.
- Payment will vary depending on the level of vibration, noise and dust measured at a residence.
- AEP is not available to sectors of the community who already receive direct benefits from mining operations.
For further information please call our free phone. The full details of the AEPP and the Scale of Payments are available at the Golden Legacy Centre or our administration office in Moresby Avenue.
0800 NEWMONT
(0800 639 6668)
Operating a Gold Mine in the Middle of a Town
Newmont Waihi Gold (NWG) operates under very stringent conditions relating to noise, vibration and dust under its mining licence and resource consents. The company takes its consent obligations seriously and can demonstrate a very high level of compliance with those limits throughout its 19 years of operation.
The consent limits are designed to, and do, avoid nuisance for most of the Waihi community most of the time.
However, some people living close to the Martha open pit or Favona underground operation may still experience some reduction in quality of life (amenity) due to noise, vibration and possibly dust, even though the mine is complying with the conditions of the licence and consents.
Therefore, while the Waihi community broadly shares the economic benefits of mining operations in Waihi, a relatively small proportion of the town's population living close to the mines may experience effects from the operations from time to time.
Amenity Effects Programme (AEP)
To address this, NWG has developed a new policy - the Amenity Effects Programme (AEP).
The AEP will establish informal agreements between NWG and residents living in defined areas close to the Martha or Favona operations.
Those who live within the affected area as defined by NWG and who choose to join the programme will receive an annual stipend and a payment for each occasion an effect on amenity occurs at their property (measured as nuisance noise, vibration or dust) despite mining operations being conducted within consent compliance limits.
Residents outside the defined area may ask to join the programme. Their inclusion will be at NWG's discretion. They will not receive the annual stipend, but may receive six-monthly payments for effects on amenity, the amount being based on the results of NWG's monitoring and modelling.
The AEP will provide an incentive for residents to retain ownership/occupation of their properties. This is expected to provide better social and economic outcomes for residents and for the mining company, especially given the relatively short term of NWG's current projects.
Who qualifies to join?
Residents within the affected areas determined by NWG can join; i.e, private home owner/occupiers and tenants of rented properties living close to the Martha open pit and the Favona underground mine.
Who does not qualify?
Excluded from the AEP are businesses within the affected areas, NWG or main contractor employees and occupiers of houses owned by NWG. These sectors are already receiving direct benefits from the mining company and/or as a result of mining operations in this region. The AEP is not available for absentee landlords - it is the occupier, not the landlord, who has the potential to experience amenity effects from mining activity.
What criteria are used to define the affected areas?
Based on extensive monitoring data collected over a number of years and logging of complaints and concerns raised in the community, NWG has a good understanding of the areas most sensitive to the effects of mining activity.
What are the payments?
Qualifying residents will receive six-monthly payments comprising a stipend of $500.00 and an effect-based payment calculated on expected vibration and/or noise effects for the forthcoming six months. Each subsequent effect-based payment is adjusted to reflect the actual effects measured by NWG during the previous six months. Individual AEP payments are expected to range between $1,000 and $5,000 per year.
When do the payments start?
The programme will begin as soon as practicable.
What if NWG defines the 'affected area' incorrectly?
At NWG's discretion, residents outside the defined area may receive effect-based payments if warranted and confirmed by monitoring. They do not receive the annual stipend. However, if monitoring indicates effects are greater than predicted, they can then be included in the full programme, including the stipend.
Will monitoring equipment be installed at my property?
It is not intended that vibration and noise monitoring will be undertaken at all times at every property. Both vibration and noise act in accordance with known scientific principles and in most instances their levels can be calculated from results recorded at existing monitoring locations. Occasionally it may be necessary to install temporary monitoring equipment at a property for a time.
Can a resident on the AEP still complain?
The AEP is offered by NWG to qualifying residents as a goodwill gesture and NWG expects reciprocal goodwill on the part of the resident. While we don't expect to be receiving complaints, the company still wants to receive feedback from those who are part of the programme as this feedback will continue to be useful in evaluating our performance.
Can a resident opt into or out of the AEP?
Yes. Qualifying residents can join or opt out at any time they choose.