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Otago Daily Times
08-08-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Mixed views on proposed gold mine
A couple of heavy hitters have come out against a planned gold mine in Waikaka but some locals appear to be backing the venture. Waikaka Gold Mines Ltd is seeking consent from the Gore District Council and Environment Southland to operate a mine near Waikaka, about 30km north of Gore. The company has also applied for the mine to be approved under the Fast-track Approvals Bill. The site was previously mined in the early 1900s and an operator also mined to its south briefly in 2001. The mine is said to be commercially feasible. The project's backers were looking to mine 95ha of land over eight years, at depths of 20m-40m below ground. Production was estimated at 6000 ounces of gold per year. Four sections of the Waikaka Stream and Shepherds Creek would be diverted for a year, before being returned to their current alignment. Nearly 30 submissions have been received with a mixture of support and opposition. The Department of Conservation (Doc) opposed the proposals relating to concerns over surface water, groundwater quality, freshwater species, habitat and fish passage. In his submission, Doc Southland operations manager John McCarroll said there was particular concern around the impact of sediment mobilised during these extensive works and the presence of potentially acid-forming materials known to be present at the site. "Excess sediment can infill and alter habitats — including spawning, feeding and refuge habitats — enable the establishment of nuisance weeds, create anoxic conditions, and smother the feeding and gill structures of invertebrates and fish. "This could result in reduced freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem health," he said in his submission. The applicant proposed to provide an erosion and sediment control plan after consent was granted, but Mr McCarroll said it was important to have details of the plan before any hearing. Goldmine activity was proposed to be within a significant Southland floodplain which raised the risk to conservation and fish during floods. Floodwaters could pass through the site and move untreated waters into other areas, resulting in contamination. Doc called for more information before any hearing. Hokonui Runanga also opposed the application. The runanga opposed the mine proposal as it did not align with the cultural significance of the Waikaka Stream and its surrounding environment. It did not address the potential adverse effects on mana whenua of significant land-use changes to an area of cultural importance and had long-term adverse impacts on cultural values, such as those on taonga species. Activities which modify the Waikaka Stream from its natural state, degrade the ecological health of the waterway and its ability to provide habitat for taonga mahinga kai species, or detract from the naturalness of the area, should be discouraged. Some submitters did support the proposal. Paul Becker said he knew the personnel who ran Waikaka Gold Mines Ltd, and knew the areas that they had mined previously. Those mines were run with exemplary professionalism, with the land returned to a state equal to if not better than before the mining, he said. The council had written to the applicant seeking more information.
Otago Daily Times
06-08-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Doc, rūnanga come out against Waikaka goldmine
A couple of heavy hitters have come out against a planned gold mine in Waikaka but some locals appear to be backing the venture. Waikaka Gold Mines Ltd is seeking consent from the Gore District Council and Environment Southland to operate a mine near Waikaka, about 20km north of Gore. The company has also applied for the mine to be approved under the Fast-track Approvals Bill. The site was previously mined in the early 1900s and an operator also mined to its south briefly in 2001. The mine is said to be commercially feasible. The project's backers were looking to mine 95ha of land over eight years, at depths of 20m-40m below ground. Production was estimated at 6000 ounces of gold per year. Four sections of the Waikaka Stream and Shepherds Creek would be diverted for a year, before being returned to their current alignment. Nearly 30 submissions have been received with a mixture of support and opposition. The Department of Conservation (Doc) opposed the proposal, it had issues with the impact of the gold mine on surface water, groundwater quality, freshwater species, habitat and fish passage. Doc southern South Island operations manager John McCarroll said in his submission, there was particular concern around the impact of sediment mobilised during these extensive works and the presence of potentially acid forming materials known to be present at site. "Excess sediment can infill and alter habitats, — including spawning, feeding and refuge habitats — enable the establishment of nuisance weeds, create anoxic conditions, and smother the feeding and gill structures of invertebrates and fish. "This could result in reduced freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem health," he said in his submission. The applicant proposed to provide an erosion and sediment control plan after consent was granted, but Mr McCarroll said it was important to have details of the plan before any hearing. Goldmine activity was proposed to be within a significant Southland floodplain which raised the risk to conservation and fish during floods. Flood waters could pass through the site and move untreated waters into other areas, resulting in contamination. Doc called for more information before any hearing. Hokonui Rūnanga also opposed the application. It said in its submission it had been engaging with the mining company since early last year. The Rūnanga said Waikaka Gold Mines Limited indicated their preference was to engage and consult with stakeholders prior to the application being lodged. The Rūnanga opposed the mine proposal as it did not align with the cultural significance of the Waikaka Stream and its surrounding environment. It did not address the potential adverse effects on mana whenua of significant land-use changes to an area of cultural importance and has long-term adverse impacts on cultural values, such as those on taonga species. Activities which modify the Waikaka Stream from its natural state, degrade the ecological health of the waterway and its ability to provide habitat for taonga mahinga kai species, or detract from the naturalness of the area, should be discouraged. Some submitters did support the proposal. Paul Becker said he knew the personnel who ran Waikaka Gold Mines Ltd, and knew the areas that they had mined previously. Those mines were run with exemplary professionalism, with the land returned to a state equal to if not better than before the mining, he said. The council had written to the applicant seeking more information.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Springfield grants $3.5M for 19 preservation projects, rejects 1 housing request
SPRINGFIELD — The city will help replace leaking roofs on five historic buildings, fix the Buckingham Fountain that has been dry for years and make Marshall Roy playground handicap accessible, but will not assist an affordable housing project with units earmarked for people with mental illness. The City Council approved spending $3.5 million in Community Preservation Act funding to be divided among 19 projects to help preserve historic churches, build affordable housing, and boost open space and recreation. This year, the act raised more than $2.5 million from a surcharge of 1.5% that has been added to taxpayers' bills since voters adopted the law in 2016. In addition, the state is expected to match the contributions with nearly $400,000, and there were additional funds from interest and money allocated but not used from last year from projects that were not done or came in under budget, said Robert McCarroll, chairman of the Community Preservation Committee. 'It was a very difficult year for the committee,' McCarroll said, about the body that vets the projects and recommends them to the City Council. 'Although we had $3.5 million to recommend to you, we had 35 projects — the most we have ever had — asking for more than $8 million.' About half the grants recommended were less than the amount requested, but those organizations can return next year for additional funds, McCarroll said. The City Council passed 19 of the recommendations without a concern but narrowly rejected a proposal to continue to support the efforts to convert the historic Kavanaugh building on State Street into 35 affordable housing units, some of which will be leased to clients of the Department of Mental Health. 'The location is just about on the front lawn of (the High School of) Commerce, and I don't think it is an appropriate location,' said City Councilor Sean Curran, who has opposed the project in the past. In addition, he argued that the city granted developer Donald Mitchell, owner of Renaissance Development LLC, $2.8 million in federal pandemic money, and the Community Preservation Committee awarded him $210,000 for the project in past years. 'I think that is a significant contribution to this project and to come back tonight for an additional $300,000 of additional taxpayer's dollars, I think is a bridge too far,' Curran said. City Councilor Malo Brown agreed, saying he does not want to put more money into a project that has stalled and added that the building has been sitting vacant with no activity for some time. Mitchell said there were some design flaws in the $10 million project that caused him to part ways with the original architect. The company now has a new designer on board and hopes to begin construction in the fall. To speed up the time when people can move in, his company has now decided to do the work in two phases, so 25 apartments will be built and occupied first, and the remaining 10 will be completed later. In responding to Curran's concerns, Mitchell said he did talk to officials at the High School of Commerce when proposing the project, and the educators did not object to it. Other councilors said they did support the project, especially since Springfield faces a shortage of affordable housing and lacks apartments for people with mental health illnesses. 'I think it addresses many needs (for) the city of Springfield, and I'm not in favor of having another empty building on State Street,' City Councilor Kateri Walsh said. 'It will help a lot of people.' There were no objections to the remaining projects. City Councilor Jose Delgado called the proposals a good mix of improvements that will affect 10 different neighborhoods. He said he was happy that several other projects will help the city address the affordable housing crisis. Among the grants is one for $250,000 that will be given to Habitat for Humanity to help build a home for a low- or moderate-income first-time homebuyer on Hancock Street. The committee also continued its annual contributions to a program that helps first-time homeowners with down payment assistance and another that helps residents improve historic homes. 'We had many applications this year for (a) leaky roof and, of course, the worst thing for a historic building is water penetration,' McCarroll said. The committee recommended assisting the new owners of the historic Paramount Theater and Massasoit House with their $1.2 million project to replace the roof with a $300,000 grant. It also awarded the Ecumenical Church on Eastern Avenue $151,000 and Daniel's New Bethel Church $94,000 each for roof replacement. The historic Ames House on Maple Street, owned by Commonwealth Academy, also will receive a grant to replace the roof. 'This is one of the still-damaged historic homes on Maple Street from the 2011 tornado. We are recommending $155,000 … to rebuild the roof to the appearance it had prior to the tornado.' Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Springfield committee recommends a $300,000 Community Preservation Act grant to Paramount Theater
SPRINGFIELD — Concerns a leaking roof would cause more deterioration to the historic Paramount Theater and Massasoit House convinced members of the Community Preservation Committee to act on a request to help fund repairs. Initially, the application for a $300,000 grant from the new owners of the theater generated a lukewarm interest from the committee, but presentations from applicants and discussions about the requests changed some members' minds, said Robert McCarroll, chairman of the committee. In its Tuesday meeting, the Community Preservation Committee voted to recommend funding for 13 applications totaling $2.5 million. Included on the list was the $300,000 recommendation for the Paramount and Massasoit House, parts of which date to 1843. 'The Paramount (application) was on the top of my list. I think we have to do triage on some of the historic buildings," McCarroll said. 'Clearly we don't want the building to become more deteriorated and water is not a good thing for historic buildings.' In its first round of recommendations, the committee approved funding to help replace multiple roofs, including for a church, for the same reason, he said. This is the eighth year of funding applications since the city voted to accept the Community Preservation Act and place a 1.5% surcharge on city taxes that is used for housing, open space, recreation and historic preservation. The committee, which receives applications and makes funding recommendations, received 35 requests that totaled $8 million. Since the tax generated about $3 million this year, it will have to say no to some of the asks, McCarroll said. The committee still has about $957,000 in remaining funds to recommend. It will continue to prioritize applications in upcoming meetings and hopes to bring all the recommendations to the City Council in June, McCarroll said. The City Council will have the final say in approving the applications. It has only rejected two in the eight years, however, and only because there were legal questions about both, McCarroll said. The Paramount has been closed for more than a decade. Just one storefront in the complex along Main Street is now occupied. The property was purchased nine months ago by Mohan Sachdev, owner of Sachdev Real Estate Development of Suffield, Connecticut, for $750,000 from the New England Farm Workers Council. Owners soon found the council never finished a project to repair the roof so water pours into the interior of the building every time it rains. The cost of the roof repairs alone is $1.2 million. Sachdev could not be reached for comment. 'I was super excited they did approve it. The Paramount is a very important building and one we want to see preserved,' said Erica Swallow, president of the Springfield Preservation Trust. The Springfield Preservation Trust placed the Paramount and Massasoit on its list of most endangered historic resources in August. The committee also approved the Springfield Preservation Trust's application for $300,000 to stabilize the historic building at 7-9 Stockbridge St., which is the second-oldest commercial building in the city. Initial estimates show the trust will need at least $1.2 million to renovate the long-vacant building on Stockbridge Street, but the trust has now commissioned a more in-depth financial study of the building. 'This is critical funding for us,' Swallow said, of the Community Preservation Act funding. more news from Western Massachusetts Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Yahoo
Mobile defendants sentenced to life in prison for murder-for-hire conspiracy
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — An investigation into a murder-for-hire conspiracy led to four shootings, five arrests and one intended victim. As testimony indicated, it was a coordinated effort to commit a revenge killing. WCSO deputy killed in line of duty during shooting in Mossy Head John Fitzgerald McCarroll Jr., 31, Darrius Dwayne Rowser, 21, and Lyteria Isheeia Hollis, 31, each of Mobile, have been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of a murder-for-hire conspiracy in October 2024, according to a press release from the Southern District of Alabama's United States Attorney's Office. The release stated court documents and evidence presented during the three-week trial showed a coordinated effort to commit a revenge killing against a specific target. 'As part of the murder plot, McCarroll hired several shooters who attempted but failed to killthe intended target of the plot during multiple nightclub shootings,' the release stated. According to testimony, McCarroll gave a gun to Reginald Fluker, who fired into the Bank Nightlife club in Mobile. Investigators reported that Fluker shot the wrong person, who later died. Hollis allegedly paid Fluker before and after the failed Bank Nightlife shooting. Fluker pleaded guilty to conspiracy and will serve 30 years in prison. In November 2022, investigators said McCarroll provided Rowser with an illegal machine gun to shoot the target inside the Paparazzi Lounge in downtown Mobile. Rowser missed the intended target but hit four other people, paralyzing one of the victims. Just two months before, investigators said McCarroll told Rowser to go to Mississippi to steal a car that they would use in the murder plot. Prosecutors said Rowser shot and killed a victim during the carjacking in D'Iberville. Rowser and his accomplice, Karmelo Derks, then traveled back to Mobile to burn the stolen vehicle. Derks pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of a stolen car and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Prosecutors said that McCarroll instructed Rowser, Derks, and 21-year-old Jimaurice Pierce in December 2022 to go to the Walmart off I-65 Service Road South in Mobile. They were told to purchase a GPS tracker that would eventually be put on the target's vehicle. Orange Beach businesses face uncertain future with proposed beach-based business ban Both Rowser and Pierce brought into the Walmart modified machine guns and fired into the self-checkout area, resulting in hurting two victims. Pierce pleaded guilty to the murder-for-the-hire conspiracy, but he has not yet been sentenced. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
