A big issue in the press this week which highlight the problems the government is encountering reforming the economy. The issues is mining in national reserves. NZ has vast areas of protected reserves. Conservation groups have ensured that historically these areas were not open to mining. The purists among them will tolerate no mining. The reality is that leaving open the prospect of mining actually ensures that mining companies explore, otherwise if mining is precluded, no company will explore. The problem is these people know nothing about mining, and fears are actually exaggerated. A number of factors to consider: The size type of mining, the jobs created, the likely local spending, provisions for spending in the economy, e.g. wages, taxation, etc. There is a large open cut gold mine in Waihi, in the Coromandel which some oppose. This mine comprises a huge whole in the ground. Despite being adjacent to the town, the only sign of mining is likely to be extra trucks on the road, vibration from the two (2 x 2 minutes) rounds of blasting each day. Perhaps the biggest issue is likely to be dust in the air as blasted and crushed rock is hauled around and stockpiled. Undercover drawing from stockpiles and covered conveyors can reduce this, as well as spraying of roads. Visually there will be a big hole in the ground, however this is not visible on flat land. An open cut into the side of a mountain might be visible from the road, but often miners plant trees to hide them, or the pit is obscured by mountains, poor access, etc. Most mines are remote from urban development and you would never know they are there unless you are one of the few who fly around at low altitude. There are impacts to groundwater sometimes, as mining does not remove all the ore, only the commercially viable material. Peripheral ore remaining will leach, potentially into streams or the groundwater, so remedial work is required to limit this, which can be hard.
The land area affected by mining is small. The biggest threat posed to NZ is coal mining on the West Coast of NZ, and places like Otago. Coal mining effects large areas, so is likely to pose the greatest change to land. If I was a NZ'er, I would be more worried about damming rivers for hydroelectricity.
The land area affected by mining is small. The biggest threat posed to NZ is coal mining on the West Coast of NZ, and places like Otago. Coal mining effects large areas, so is likely to pose the greatest change to land. If I was a NZ'er, I would be more worried about damming rivers for hydroelectricity.
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