Update on the Trio Mine Consent Application        View the Trio Mine Consent Application documents

Council has released the decision on the Trio mine consent application to all the parties involved. The decision was made, by three independent Commissioners appointed by the Council, after a Hearing in early
December, 2010. A total of 395 submissions to the application were received. The decision approves the Trio mine works applied for that cover earthworks, drilling, blasting, removal and treatment of waste,
rehabilitation and processing of ore. The approval allows for mining and processing of ore from the Trio, Union and Amaranth veins located below Union Hill. The consent has a significant number of conditions
attached to it. The period for Appeals to the consent and conditions closes on 9 February, 2011.

The consent that allowed for access to the three Trio ore bodies had previously been granted.

The main issues of concern raised by submitters during the hearing related to potential effects arising from:

• Blasting and Vibration
• Property values
• Heritage sites
• Noise and dust
• Water quality
• Dewatering and potential subsidence
• Traffic
• Quality of life
• Hazardous substances; and
• Consultation

The main reasons given for supporting the project were:

• Economic benefits
• Employment benefits
• Social benefits.

A Variation to the existing mining licence that covers the site has also been recommended for approval. This Variation allows for:

• The disposal of waste rock and tailings onto the existing tailings dam site.
• The crest of tailing dam 1A to be raised by 11 metres.
• Allow for deposit of tailings from Waihi Epithermal District.
• Additional rehabilitation conditions.
• Updating of existing conditions, plans and maps.
• Removal of obsolete conditions.

Subject to any Appeals, work on the Trio mine will commence on completion of the works approved in the Trio development consent.