The purpose of this paper is to
provide an illustration of the Resource Management Act processes at their
best.
Many of you will be aware of the
Martha Mine situated in the middle of Waihi Township in Hauraki District. Underground
mining ceased on Martha Hill in the 1950s. A new mining licence was issued in
the late 1980s and since that date open cast mining has continued at the
site.
The Hauraki District Council
notified its proposed plan in October 1994. Prior to that date numerous
discussion papers and draft sections of the plan had been disseminated in the
community. Considerable consultation was undertaken with all interest groups. As
an indication of the success of that consultation process only 17 references to
the Environment
Court were lodged following the making of decisions
on submissions and further submissions. Those references, which included a
number from the Minerals Industry, were all resolved by consent.
Out of the reference and consent
order process EMMA (Extended Martha Mineral Area) was born.