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Friday 11 April 2025
Siren seeks mining permit
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Siren Gold has applied for a permit to establish open pit and underground mines at Sams Creek. Photo above shows OceanaGold's large open pit mine at Waihi. Inset depicts approximate location of Main Zone and SE Traverse – potential sites for open pit mines at Sams Creek. Images supplied. JO RICHARDS
The Australian company seeking to mine gold at Sams Creek in the Cobb Valley has applied for a permit to establish open pit and underground mines and a processing plant. Siren Gold Limited lodged its Mining Permit Application (MPA) with New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals (NZPAM) on 21 March. The company formally announced the news to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) on 3 April. As with Februar y ’s resumption of exploratory drilling operations, the Golden Bay community was not informed of this significant development by Siren Gold, but found out about it from the company’s website. Siren Gold’s permit application is an indication that the company, outwardly at least, has confidence in the findings from its exploratory drilling operation,
notwithstanding the fact that its Mineral Resource Estimate remains “inferred” or “indicated” rather than “measured”. The departing CEO Victor Rajasooriar nevertheless presented a positive business case for the project in the ASX announcement. “The findings from the scoping study at Sams Creek drive home the regional significance of the project and provide additional confidence that both an open pit and an underground operation are potentially financially viable.” But the CEO admitted that uncertainty over the resource precluded any detailed estimates being made public. “…the company is not currently able to release forecast production and financial information under ASX listing rules.” By submitting a MPA, Siren Gold can continue drilling operations, despite its exploratory permits having expired, until NZPAM makes a decision, which could be up
to 12 months from receipt of the application. The continuing drilling operation may or may not add to what, in global terms, is a relatively meagre resource but it should help to clarify the viability of a mining operation. As part of the MPA, the company completed open pit and underground mine designs, along with a waste rock stack (WRS), tailings storage facility (TSF), processing plant and other infrastructure requirements. The ASX announcement details two mining options: Option A: Comprises a small open pit at the SE Traverse [a location close to the Tākaka River] and a large open pit at Main Zone, followed by an underground mine. The underground mine would be accessed through a portal to be constructed near the base of the Main Zone pit. Underground stopes [mine tunnels] would be backfilled... Continued on page 3
In a bid to trim soaring expenditure, Tasman District Council has implemented cuts to some of its most basic services. At the recent full council meeting, elected representatives voted to reduce the frequency of street sweeping and servicing of public toilets, defer shrub maintenance, restrict roadside mowing to safety-critical locations, and remove rubbish bins and dog poo bag dispensers from reserves. The cost saving measures also include minimising routine monitoring of water and wastewater activities without compromising regulatory compliance. The latest cost-cutting measures are expected to save around $150,000 over the final quarter of the current financial year and help to head off a projected $3million overspend on the council’s community infrastructure budget. TDC published news of the service reductions on its Facebook page the day after the council meeting and, so far the post has attracted over 700 comments, almost all of them critical of the move. The most common grievance aired on the social media backlash focused on the council cutting basic services while at the same time increasing rates, fees and charges significantly. The removal of dog poo bag dispensers was singled out as being particularly perverse given the upcoming large hike in dog registration fees. In response to an inquiry from The GB Weekly, a TDC spokesman confirmed that all bag dispensers and bins are to be removed from Golden Bay reserves. He also explained that there are currently just two toilet facilities in Golden Bay – Willow Street and Collingwood – that are cleaned twice a day, and this is only for the period between Labour weekend and Easter. For the remainder of the year they are serviced once a day but, going... Continued on page 2
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Inside: Perfect pumpkins Mystic Beauty Fabrica 2025 Allinson Architect Easter recipe THE GB WEEKLY, FRIDAY 11 APRIL 2025
ISSN (PRINT) 2538-0923 ISSN (ONLINE) 2538-0931
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