ABOUT THE WAIHI NORTH PROJECT
When we acquired the Waihi Mining operations in 2015, OceanaGold made a commitment to the New Zealand Government to invest in extending the life of mining in Waihi. We obtained consents for, and have since begun, operation of our Martha Underground Mine at Waihi. We also undertook extensive exploration in the area, as laid out in our Waihi District Study released in July 2020. This exploration programme included our announcement, in February 2019, of gold and silver resource deposits beneath Wharekirauponga and at the location of the proposed Gladstone Open Pit.
We have named this the Waihi North Project.
Since then, we have confirmed the viability of an underground mine at Wharekirauponga and
the related infrastructure to support this. Further technical and exploration studies have been successfully completed, which have allowed us to refine and optimise the project.
The New Zealand Government has recently acknowledged the Waihi North Project’s significant regional and national benefits by announcing it in the Fast-track Approvals Bill. We anticipate a formal lodgement of an application to be assessed under the Fast-track process once it is passed into law.
We have named this the Waihi North Project.
We have named this the Waihi North Project.
Since then, we have confirmed the viability of an underground mine at Wharekirauponga and
the related infrastructure to support this. Further technical and exploration studies have been successfully completed, which have allowed us to refine and optimise the project.
The New Zealand Government has recently acknowledged the Waihi North Project’s significant regional and national benefits by announcing it in the Fast-track Approvals Bill. We anticipate a formal lodgement of an application to be assessed under the Fast-track process once it is passed into law.
We have named this the Waihi North Project.
The Waihi North Project will integrate with the already consented mining activities at Waihi and has five main components:
- Wharekirauponga Underground Mine – A new underground mine at Wharekirauponga, just north of Waihi, and associated infrastructure at a portal entrance on company land at the end of Willows Road, Waihi.
- Gladstone Open Pit – A pit adjacent to the OceanaGold Waihi Processing Plant.
- Tailings Storage – Increasing tailings storage capacity by constructing a third tailings storage facility (TSF3) immediately east of the current facilities.
- Northern Rock Stack (NRS) – A rock storage facility to the north of the current tailings storage facilities.
- Processing Plant Upgrade – Increasing throughput capacity at our existing Processing Plant.
These proposed works stand to create several hundred additional jobs in the region and produce billions of dollars of exports over the coming years. This will continue to support Waihi and the region’s development, as gold and silver mining has done for over 100 years.
ABOUT US
OceanaGold Corporation is a gold producer with over 34 years of operating responsibly in New Zealand. The company was founded in New Zealand, at Otago’s Macraes operation (which it continues to operate) and has built an international portfolio as one of the most progressive gold miners in the world.
OceanaGold’s acquisition of Waihi Gold in 2015 deepened the company’s Kiwi roots, enabling it to share decades of mining innovation and leadership to advance the development of Waihi’s gold and silver resources.
At Waihi, we currently operate a successful underground mining operation and are actively exploring in the region.
We have underground and surface mines at the Macraes operation in the South Island, plus mines in the Philippines and the United States.
We are also actively closing a mine at Reefton in the South Island, having successfully operated that mine on Department of Conservation administered Forest Park.
OceanaGold has a proven track record of working within a tight regulatory framework including controls relating to vibration, noise, dust, ground surface stability, flora and fauna, and water management.
We are committed to responsible mining, managing our impacts and, more broadly, ensuring this project makes a positive contribution to our host communities and society, and to the natural values of the area.
OceanaGold’s acquisition of Waihi Gold in 2015 deepened the company’s Kiwi roots, enabling it to share decades of mining innovation and leadership to advance the development of Waihi’s gold and silver resources.
At Waihi, we currently operate a successful underground mining operation and are actively exploring in the region.
We have underground and surface mines at the Macraes operation in the South Island, plus mines in the Philippines and the United States.
We are also actively closing a mine at Reefton in the South Island, having successfully operated that mine on Department of Conservation administered Forest Park.
OceanaGold has a proven track record of working within a tight regulatory framework including controls relating to vibration, noise, dust, ground surface stability, flora and fauna, and water management.
We are committed to responsible mining, managing our impacts and, more broadly, ensuring this project makes a positive contribution to our host communities and society, and to the natural values of the area.
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