Author Archives: Sustainable Tarras Chief

We’ve been getting lots of questions about Santana’s toxic tailings dam. For the first time, this video shows you where it will be. https://youtu.be/kPu2hW34DeU The view of the site was taken from high up in the Dunstan Mountains, from the Bendigo Reserve. This is the reality of what Australian mining company Santana Minerals is bringingContinueContinue reading “Video: Santana’s toxic tailings dam – visualisation”

We are delighted to have the support of nine wonderful artists who have gifted artworks to an exhibition to support the mahi Sustainable Tarras does. Under the banner of “No Go Bendigo” (which we think has a great ring to it), they have today launched an online exhibition of their works. 100% of the proceedsContinueContinue reading “Nine prominent artists launch online exhibition in staunch opposition to fast-track mine”

Some Otago residents are asking how they can mobilise against a giant gold mine, poised for the fast-track bill and potentially set to start reshaping their backyard as early as February. Australian company Santana Minerals intended to plumb the hills between Bendigo and Ophir for a $4.4 billion gold deposit, and said it would be filing forContinueContinue reading “[Radio NZ] Otago locals range from curious to staunchly opposed on giant gold mine”

[27th August 2025] Concerned locals turned out in force to voice their worries and learn more about the proposed Bendigo gold mine last night. More than 150 attended the meeting at the Presbyterian Church in Cromwell, which was organised by anti-mine campaigners. Read the full article in the ODT here.

Over the last few weeks, a series of public meetings have taken place in Dunedin, Wānaka and Cromwell. They have been very well attended, and we’ve had great feedback, with people leaving the meetings feeling much better informed (and appropriately concerned) about the issues and risks associated with the mine project. In Dunedin, approximately 75ContinueContinue reading “Public meetings in Dunedin, Wānaka, Cromwell show level of concern”

Santana will try and push through their fast tracked gold mine within a matter of weeks. So it’s important that as many people as possible are informed, understand some of the horrendous issues, and know what they can do about it. We are holding a further urgent public meeting on 26 August 2025, this timeContinueContinue reading “Urgent public meeting – Cromwell – 26 August 2025”

MEDIA RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Dunedin and Wānaka, Tuesday 10 June 2025 As community concern about the planned fast-tracked open-pit gold mine in Central Otago grows, two urgent public meetings have been organised in Dunedin and Wānaka next week. Organisers have confirmed that there is already strong interest in both meetings. The meetings,ContinueContinue reading “Media release: Urgent public meetings planned for Dunedin and Wānaka as concern over fast-tracked goldmine swells”

There is other, better gold than gold itself in Otago, Jonathan West writes. Santana Minerals proposes a vast open-cast gold mine to cut through the Dunstan Mountains above the Clutha River. CEO Damien Spring says “the gold rush has started” and his company trumpets big sums: perhaps $5 billion revenues for this small band of Australian minersContinueContinue reading “Yes, all that glistens is not always gold – ODT 09/06/25”

Santana will try and push through their fast tracked gold mine within a matter of weeks. So it’s important that as many people as possible are informed, understand some of the horrendous issues, and know what they can do about it. We are holding urgent public meetings in Dunedin on the evening of Tuesday 17ContinueContinue reading “Urgent public meetings – Dunedin and Wānaka – June 2025”

Yesterday, we wrote to Judge Jane Borthwick, Convener of the Fast-Track Panel. We outlined some of our significant concerns about the goldmine being proposed by Santana, and the use of the fast-track process to push the project through. Our letter is therefore a very good summary for people wanting to understand the issues in detail.ContinueContinue reading “Letter to Fast-Track Panel Convener”