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 July, 2020. This
exploration programme included our announcement, in February 2019, of a gold and silver resource
deposit beneath Wharekirauponga and at the location of the proposed Gladstone Open Pit.
Since then we have undertaken further technical and exploration studies, which have confirmed the
viability of an underground mine at Wharekirauponga. As a result, we have now (30th June 2022) applied for consents to develop an underground mine at Wharekirauponga and construct the related infrastructure to support this.
We have named this the Waihi North Project.
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 July, 2020. This
exploration programme included our announcement, in February 2019, of a gold and silver resource
deposit beneath Wharekirauponga and at the location of the proposed Gladstone Open Pit.
Since then we have undertaken further technical and exploration studies, which have confirmed the
viability of an underground mine at Wharekirauponga. As a result, we have now (30th June 2022) applied for consents to develop an underground mine at Wharekirauponga and construct the related infrastructure to support this.
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 OceanaGold land at the end of Willows Road, Waihi.
- Gladstone Open Pit – A pit directly to the west of 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 and adding tailings storage within the Gladstone open pit on completion of mining.
- 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.
Formal applications for consents have been made, and we will continue to work closely with stakeholders and conduct further studies.
These proposed projects 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.
These proposed projects 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 30 years of operating sustainably 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 also 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 and sustainably operated that mine
on Department of Conservation administered Forest Park.
Sustainability is fundamental to the way we do business.
OceanaGold has a proven track record of working within a tight regulatory framework including key conditions relating to
vibration, noise, dust, ground surface stability, flora and fauna, and water management.
We are committed to mining responsibly, managing our effects 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 also 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 and sustainably operated that mine
on Department of Conservation administered Forest Park.
Sustainability is fundamental to the way we do business.
OceanaGold has a proven track record of working within a tight regulatory framework including key conditions relating to
vibration, noise, dust, ground surface stability, flora and fauna, and water management.
We are committed to mining responsibly, managing our effects 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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