• Mine tour – congratulations to NWO by Rex Dillimore, supported by others that attended, for the most open tour ever presented.
• Letter read re views on the Pumphouse post tour (Norm Schwarz) (attached)
• The mine tour gave a different perspective of what goes on – (Rob Martinson)
• A request for a list of potential hazards for Tailings dam area – (Ruth Ordish) (Newmont have undertaken to provide that information)
• Great to see an overview of the setup via the tour. Able to see tremendous potential for walkways – (Homer Stubbs)
• Three questions the company was unable to answer on the day of the Tour. Kathy Mason will send answers to Tim and Sharon prior to next meeting.
• It was a surprise that the water in the bottom of the pit was warm – (Ollie Richardson).
  

2. Follow up mine tour
A further tour for those of the committee who were not able to attend the first tour, and those other interested parties has been set up for 10 a.m. Monday 25 August
Those interested Ph Donna @ Newmont (07) 863-9827 or email donna.fisher@newmont.com.au

3. Introduction Jim Clark
Jim Clark of Boffa Miskell Limited was introduced. Jim is undertaking Social Impact research for Newmont Waihi in relation to Favona. Jim will be talking to a number of people in the Waihi community.


4. Updates from the various working groups.
We heard from the following groups as part of our information gathering phase:
Heritage
Gail Henry of Historic Places Trust gave a presentation encouraging the committee to make plans and take advantage of Golden Legacy in a co-ordinated way that makes the most of the heritage that Waihi has to offer.

Following Gail’s presentation a question was asked about what Historic sites are listed in Waihi and its environs. Gail gave some examples but is going to obtain a comprehensive list for the committee to consider in its discussions.

At the conclusion of the Heritage discussion the committee decided there is a need for a “Heritage” working group alongside the other groups. Eric Lens and Doreen McLeod agreed to lead this group with Rob Martinson and Gail Henry in support.

Tourism
Mark Samson gave a well researched presentation on behalf of the Tourism group. The group has considered a broad range of opportunities for Waihi and outlined how these can be co-ordinated. The presentation went on to show how similar ideas have been applied in Northern Minnesota in a tourism initiative called the Iron Trail. This example demonstrates that what the tourism group are suggesting is achievable. The presentation concluded with an economic analysis of the increase in revenue for Waihi that could result from such a project.

The presentation is in PowerPoint and will be either printed and posted out to those of you who receive minutes in hard copy or will be available at the next meeting in hard copy for those of you who receive your minutes by email. (The presentation is relatively large and we are cautions about such a huge emailout).

Social Development
Tessa McKenzie provided a positive and proactive presentation regarding the opportunities for social development that the Golden Legacy initiative provides. Tessa has already spoken to a number of social service providers and advises that the main areas to be addressed in the social development area are:

1. Acknowledgement and clarity of process around dealing with social impact of mining in Waihi, to include cultural impact on Maori of having te maunga removed and te awa polluted.

2. Public transport for education, training and employment purposes

3. Alternative education opportunities utilising holistic models of learning language, numeracy, life skills, parenting and personal empowerment/well-being.

4. Full-time Hauraki Regional Youth Worker.

5. Apprenticeship trade opportunities in such industries as plumbing, electrician, building

6. Opportunities to encourage development of creative pursuits such as music, performing arts, film and media studies, art, jewellery (the jewellery school concept)

The presentation went on to develop further the idea of alternative education opportunities as outlined in 3 above. The other points will be developed further at a later date.
The notes from Tessa’s presentation are attached in full.

Business
Bronwyn Wightman provided an introductory summary of the types of idea that the business development initiatives need to follow. She began with an exhortation regarding the resilience of Waihi and the vision of Golden Legacy as an opportunity for Waihi to grow to bigger and better things. The essence of the presentation was around:

• The use of the labour force and mine facilities when no longer utilised
• Industry that will be required to support other golden legacy initiatives including businesses and environmental options such as walkways.
• A working mine display using existing mining expertise.
• A multicultural centre
• Using old mine timber.
• Paid mine tours.
  

Bronwyn emphasised that the business initiatives need to be in addition to, and complementary to, existing business and that success will rely on a consolidated approach e.g. existing retailers letting visitors know what there is to see and do in Waihi.

Environmental
Ruth Ordish started her presentation from the perspective that as we now have a huge hole where there was once a mountain, and two huge dams where there was once a gully; the physiology of Waihi is changed forever. Accordingly it is right that the Golden Legacy process addresses those effects.

The opportunities for this to happen include:

• Make areas available for rare or endangered birds and/or plants.
• Kauri bank – beginnings already established by Waihi Gold. Add in species which support kauri, including most importantly local trees/plants which existed prior to mining days.
• A "corridor" for native bird transit could be created by developing further fenced areas on Black Hill and Union Hill
• Wetland creation.
• Community gardens. - Organic, heritage gardens.
• Tricycle and bicycle ways - Make Waihi a cycle friendly town. Thinking on a “blue skies” scale, it would be good if this could extend from Karangahake and possibly over farmland to the Beach and incorporate Golden Legacy.
• Maori medicinal plants. Part of the restoration of local plants and herbs.
• Education - Many opportunities here, primary, secondary and tertiary. Research studies, knowledge tours and packs - understanding impact of mining - in the past, in the present, etc, etc.
• Horse treks – lama
• Establish relations with a well known group who could "add value" to any environmental development that we might undertake, e.g. National Geographic.
  

The notes from Ruth’s presentation are attached in full.

7. The Pumphouse – how to be addressed
The question was raised about how and when the committee is going to address the questions around what happens with the Pumphouse. As a result of discussion we are now clear that there are some information gaining stages to complete before a useful discussion of what will happen with the Pumphouse can be addressed:

(i) A Cultural Heritage Assessment is currently being conducted. This will provide a mechanism for Historic Places Trust (HPT) to look at issues re the Pumphouse, look at what options are feasible and rank them from an HPT perspective.

(ii) A Geotech report has been prepared and was delivered to HDC today (4 August 2003). Peer reviewers will consider this report and will be discussing it at a meeting on 28 August 2003.

(iii) NWO will be making a decision in mid – September 2003, about whether mining the South Wall is viable.

All of those timeframes culminated in a decision by the committee that the Pumphouse will be placed on the WCCC agenda in 6 weeks time.

That WCCC meeting will be to resolve a process for determining the future for the Pumphouse rather than a “decision on the spot” situation.

8. Use of Table
Ruth reminded us that the table was the mechanism proposed for summarising and keeping the information we gather on all subjects in front of the committee. Tim and Sharon will work further on including the updated info and will provide the next copy of the table at the next meeting.

9. Meetings
It was agreed that we need to continue fortnightly meetings at this stage. The next three meetings will be on 18 August, 1 & 15 September 2003.

10. Minutes
It was agreed that there was no problem with Tim and Sharon drafting the minutes and Newmont doing the printing and posting.

11. Next meeting on 18 August 2003.
At the next meeting there will be presentations from

• The social impact team. (Collette, Rex, Tessa)
• Tangata Whenua – John McIvor
• Waihi Maori Community - Tuihana Cunningham
  

12. Meeting closed at 9:45pm with a karakia from John McIver.






Tim and Sharon