Latest news with #RobvanVoorthuysen
Otago Daily Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Discovery of rare moth may thwart mine expansion plans
A rare native moth may have scuppered part of OceanaGold's Macraes mine expansion plans. The "nationally vulnerable" moth Orocrambus sophistes , which lives in short tussock grasslands, has been found at Golden Bar, one of three open pits about 55km north of Dunedin that OceanaGold has applied to expand. The mining company has asked to wait for the conclusions of a forthcoming report on the expected adverse environmental effects of its proposed Golden Bar expansion before deciding whether to proceed with it. It is a position independent commissioner Rob van Voorthuysen called an "unusual proposition" and one he warned the company could result in a delay of the hearings scheduled to start in July. This was a risk the company "seems to be willing to take", he said in a second minute issued ahead of hearings. The company wanted section 42A reports by the Otago Regional Council, Waitaki District Council and Dunedin City Council due on June 9 to assess the full slate of extensions proposed — at the Innes Mills, Coronation and Golden Bar open pits, and second stage tailings disposal in the Frasers storage facility. However, the company submitted it reserved the right not to pursue Golden Bar at the hearing based in part on the outcome of the reports, Mr van Voorthuysen said on behalf of the commissioners. "We find this to be an unusual proposition. "It is our experience and preference that section 42A reports and an applicant's evidence circulated prior to a hearing address the actual proposal for which consent will be sought. "Nevertheless, we acknowledge [OceanaGold's] advice that they may wish to follow a different process." OceanaGold was unable to respond to Otago Daily Times questions yesterday, but a memorandum on behalf of the company noted the Department of Conservation, Forest & Bird and Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki, Te Rūnanga o Moeraki, and Te Rūnaka o Ōtākou (collectively Kā Rūnaka) all addressed potential effects on biodiversity values in their submissions. "Kā Rūnaka also provided a cultural impact assessment (CIA) on May 1 which, among other things, identified concerns with potential effects on Orocrambus sophistes , a moth which the invertebrate report ... noted as having one recorded finding within the Golden Bar footprint," the company's counsel Pip Walker said. "The same issue had also been identified in the ORC's notification report, which classed the presence of the moth as 'a fundamental issue' with the express direction that: 'the applicant should give further consideration to these matters'." With the submissions and cultural impact assessment in mind, the company determined some of the potential biodiversity effects of the overall expansion plans could be avoided by removing the Golden Bar element, Ms Walker said. A "heads up" was given to the three councils and Kā Rūnaka last week. "ORC's planner initially suggested that it was too late to exclude Golden Bar from the section 42A report, and [OceanaGold] made further inquiries about this on May 16. "ORC's planner said it would seek legal advice on this and raise this with the commissioners. "[OceanaGold] had anticipated it would be included in any such communication with the commissioners, but it was not." The Golden Bar area was "spatially separated" from the main part of the Macraes mine and situated about 10km south of the processing plant. In the company's view and that of its consultants, the Golden Bar plans could be "readily severed from the remainder of the project without requiring amended technical reports to be supplied".
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Heritage protection discouraged
Churches across Dunedin are singing from the same hymn sheet, asking the council not to protect their buildings, some of which are slated for demolition. Church representatives have urged the council not include Highgate Presbyterian Church, the former Holy Cross College and Kaikorai Presbyterian Church on the heritage schedule, a request echoed by the owner of former Andersons Bay Presbyterian Church. At a hearing yesterday, commissioners Rob van Voorthuysen (chairman), Cr Sophie Barker and Cr Jim O'Malley were told trying to protect some buildings could hasten their demolition. Speaking on behalf of the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Dunedin, Conrad Anderson opposed the inclusion of the former Holy Cross College. Mr Anderson said last year the council had granted a certificate of compliance allowing demolition of most of the main building, excluding the central structure, within the next five years. "The best way to seek to protect this building — and I realise this is quite ironic — is by not listing it," he said. If the building were listed, the certificate of compliance for demolition would become a "countdown". "Anyone who's looking at using the site may activate [the certificate] before it expires," he said. On behalf of the Synod of Otago and Southland and Southern Presbytery, Mr Anderson also opposed the protection of the Kaikorai Presbyterian Church. He said it was earthquake-prone and surplus to requirements, with a limited future. "It's visual but it's not a landmark," he said. "By protecting the building you'll actually make the land resource unavailable for sustainable use." Parish representative John Milnes said the proposed listing of the Highgate Presbyterian Church removed the "autonomy" of its owner, the parish. "Various loud members of the community oppose us doing what we want to the building but they are not members of the parish, they do not financially support the parish ... they just want a pretty building. "We all like pretty buildings but at the end of the day, somebody has to pay for them." The site was still fit for purpose, even if the the building was not, Dr Milnes said. "Applying a heritage listing to the building would effectively preclude its demolition or easy future development." On Tuesday, the owner of former Andersons Bay Presbyterian Church, Campbell Paton, told commissioners the building was "too far gone" to qualify for protection. Costs for earthquake-strengthening and weather tightening exceeded $2million and the council had granted a certificate of compliance for demolition within five years and resource consent for a multi-unit development on the site. If the building were listed, it would be demolished within the five years, he said. The hearing was adjourned. Commissioners would make their recommendation to the council once they had considered the council staff's right of reply.
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
DCC urged to ‘top up' heritage property sales
The Dunedin City Council has been urged to balance personal cost with public benefit as it considers the fate of properties planned for heritage protection. As part of proposed changes to the district plan, the council has identified 146 buildings which may be added to the heritage schedule. At a hearing yesterday, commissioners Rob van Voorthuysen (chairman), Cr Sophie Barker and Cr Jim O'Malley heard 11 submissions on the planned changes. Highgate property owner Stephen Christensen told the panel the resale value of his 1910s house could decrease by about 13% if it was scheduled and the council should agree to "top up'' any future sale in exchange. "If we can be assured that we will not be penalised when we come to sell in the next few years, we would not oppose the listing,'' he said. "After all, council acknowledges that listing provides a public benefit, so why should the cost of that be borne by private ratepayers?' Cargill Castle trustee David Kiddey said while he was supportive of all the proposed buildings being added to the schedule, the council needed to extended some leniency to owners. The proposed listings were "sensible additions'' when viewed from the street "and that's all we need, really. It doesn't matter what goes on behind.'' He suggested owners be allowed to make "reasonable changes'' to their buildings while maintaining an aesthetic street view. "If you're driving down a nice street, that's what you see, and that's what makes it attractive. If you don't know what's behind those facades, it doesn't matter.'' Dunedin landlord Mark Thom opposed his six Central Dunedin properties being listed. He said the council's proposed changes were a "dirty wee trick'' when proposed Resource Management Act reform from the National-led government could change how heritage properties are managed. Mr van Voorthuysen said the council had to operate as the law stood. Five people spoke during the University of Otago submission, opposing heritage protection for the Archway Lecture Theatres. University vice-chancellor Grant Robertson said the theatres were not widely loved on campus and not part of the university's future. During consultation on plan change 1, the council received 132 submission related to heritage — 68 wanted the related submission accepted, 44 for the submission to be rejected, 15 asked for the change to be accepted with amendments and five submitters wanted a change amended if it was not rejected. The hearing continues tomorrow and further changes to the district plan will be considered later in the year.
