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NEWMONT WAIHI GOLD LIMITED
Complaints Raised by the Community
July – December 2011
Donna Fisher Company Liaison Officer April 2011
Complaints / Concerns Summary Report July – December 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Managing Complaints 1
1.1.1 Noise 1
1.1.2 Vibration 2
1.1.3 Odour/Gas/Fumes 2
2 MARTHA SUMMARY RESULTS 3
2.1 Noise 4
2.2 Vibration 4
2.3 Air Emissions 6
2.4 Property 9
2.5 BRANZ Surveys 9
2.6 Traffic 9
2.7 Amenity Effects Programme 10
2.8 Weed Spraying 10
3 FAVONA & TRIO UNDERGROUND PROJECTS SUMMARY RESULTS 11
3.1 Vibration 12
3.3 Property 12
3.4 Noise from Blasting 12
3.5 BRANZ Surveys 12
3.6 Staff Behaviour 12
APPENDIX 1 – MARTHA OPEN PIT COMPLAINTS BREAKDOWN BY 13
DATE AND LOCATION
APPENDIX 2 – FAVONA & TRIO UNDERGROUND COMPLAINTS BREAKDOWN BY DATE AND LOCATION
Complaints / Concerns Summary Report July – December 2011
Page 1
COMPLAINTS / CONCERNS SUMMARY REPORT
July – December 2011
1 INTRODUCTION
This report presents an analysis of concerns and complaints registered by Newmont Waihi Gold (NWG) between July – December 2011 to meet the requirements of its various consents and licences.
The report summarises all complaints received during the six-month period, actions taken by the consent holder, and any resolutions. Other matters of concern raised by the community are also reported including any mediation entered into by the consent holder and others with respect to operational matters and mediation outcomes (unless the parties have agreed to keep such confidential).
Section A reports on the complaints and concerns received in respect of the Martha open pit operation. Section B reports on the complaints received in respect of the Favona and Trio underground operations.
1.1 Managing Complaints
All complaints and concerns regarding the mining operation (Martha & Favona mines and exploration activities) are received by the Company Liaison Officer (CLO). A free phone number (0800 NEWMONT or 0800 639 6668) was established to simplify the Waihi community’s access to NWG. The service is available on a 24 hour 7 days per week basis. External Affairs and Environmental Department staff are rostered to cover weekends, public holidays and the CLO’s absence. In addition, the NWG’s main office phone is available between 8:00 am and 5:00pm during the working week.
The 0800 NEWMONT contact phone number is currently printed in the fortnightly Update newsletters published in the Waihi Leader and in promotional material.
All complaints received by NWG are immediately registered and then logged into the Complaints database. Complainant details are recorded, as is the nature of the complaint. All complaints are acted upon. Sound monitoring is undertaken after receipt of a noise complaint, and blast vibration data is obtained from Blasthub following a blasting-related complaint. The source of the effect is investigated and located wherever possible and appropriate mitigation action taken where practicable. All of the relevant monitoring data and mitigation actions are recorded in the database. Complainants are informed of the monitoring results, the outcome of any investigation and the mitigation action taken.
1.1.1 Noise
Actions to reduce noise levels from the Martha mine have been formulated and are contained in a Noise Mitigation Plan. Experience has shown that the Martha operation complies with the noise limits of its land use consent under climatic conditions at or close to the neutral meteorological conditions that apply under the consent, and that there are very few complaints under these circumstances. Without any changes in activity, mine-related noise increases, and
Complaints / Concerns Summary Report July – December 2011
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complaints are received, downwind of the operations once wind speeds increase to around 3 m/s. The Plan aims at preventing complaints associated with the wind-induced nuisance noise propagation. The trigger for action is when wind increases to over 3 m/s as measured at the meteorological station in Barry Rd.
Under the Plan, wind-induced nuisance noise levels are reduced by modifying the in-pit activities and include shutting down crushing-conveying operations or mobile machinery (trucks and loaders). Under particularly adverse conditions, the mine may be shut down completely.
Being an underground operation, noise is not considered an issue for Favona & Trio however three noise complaints were received during the reporting period.
1.1.2 Vibration
Specific actions taken during the reporting period to improve blasting practices and systems continue to be:
Blasthub continues to be a useful tool for giving complainants blast results at the time of their call. The vibration monitoring hardware system and web-based reporting system was installed for both the Martha and Favona sites. The system reports real-time vibration data for review and verification, records blast design parameters, provides for recording of complaints and allows effects from proposed blast designs to be assessed prior to firing.
The Blast Vibration Mitigation Plan ensures existing procedures at the Martha mine can be reviewed using recent vibration history and ‘tightening’ of blast design parameters to reduce vibration levels if required. A similar practice is applied at Favona and Trio (is this correct).
CLO continues to give advanced warning of blast events to those residents living within close proximity to the Eastern Cutback and the Favona & Trio underground operations activities who wish to be kept informed along with various businesses around town.
The noise bund extension has been completed and hydroseeding has been undertaken. This will improve noise attenuation and provide better shelter within the pit.
1.1.3 Odour/Gas/Fumes
An odour notification system was developed and implemented during 2004, and included in the Air Quality Management Plan and is still being implemented. The protocol was developed to protect residents living to the west and south west of the pit who are sensitive to blast odours. The protocol involves notifying those residents sensitive to blast odours prior to blasting on the west wall with light to moderate (<5m/s) wind conditions from an easterly-quarter. These conditions were identified as having the potential to generate odours beyond the site boundary. This combination of conditions occurs infrequently and notification was not necessary during the reporting period. This will remain part of the Air Quality Management Plan for any future residents who are sensitive to blast odour.
Complaints / Concerns Summary Report July – December 2011
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SECTION A – MARTHA OPEN PIT OPERATION
2 MARTHA SUMMARY RESULTS
Total complaints received during the July - December 2011 period are tabulated below. A month-by-month breakdown of complaints is shown in Figure A detailed list of complaints is provided in Appendix 1.
It should be noted that of the 342 complaints recorded 131 complaints came from 5 residents making up 38% of the total complaints received.
Complaints by type were:
Type Number of Complaints
Period
Noise 237 July – December
Vibration 76 July – December
Dust 24 August – December
Property 3 October - December
Traffic 1 September
AEP 4 September - December
Weed Spraying 1 September
Total 346
Complaints / Concerns Summary Report July – December 2011
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Figure 1 Complaint Trends by Month
Nb: Issues that received one or fewer complaints during the period have not been graphed
2.1 Noise
Two hundred and thirty seven noise complaints were received during the reporting period from fifty two separate locations.
Hauraki District Council (HDC) advises Newmont of any complaints it receives. Complaints are reported by HDC with only broad details, e.g. cause and general area from where the complaint originates.
Council received ten noise complaints during the reporting period. For details and mitigating actions, please refer to complaints summary in Appendix 1 of this report.
2.2 Vibration
Seventy six vibration complaints were received during the reporting period from twenty four locations.
For details and mitigating actions, please refer to complaints summary in Appendix 1 of this report.
The vibration performance over the reporting period is summarised in the following tables.
Complaints / Concerns Summary Report July – December 2011
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Rolling 12 month performance
Jul-11 96.7%
Aug-11 96.9%
Sep-11 95.5%
Oct-11 96.1%
Nov-11 96.5%
Dec-11 96.7%
Six vibration exceedances were recorded during the reporting period for Martha blasting:
Date Location Result (mm/s)
Investigation comments and mitigation actions.
24-Aug-11 Grey Street 5.4 Single spike in trace; no obvious cause, overcharging of hole highly unlikely.
02-Sep-11 Grey Street 6.3
First attempt at decked charges in this area; suspected ignimbrite band above tuff, reducing attenuation and channelling vibration toward Grey St monitoring area.
02-Sep-11 Grey Street 5.8 As above; holes already loaded so no safe alternative but to fire as planned
02-Sep-11 Grey Street 7.9
As above; holes already loaded so no safe alternative but to fire as planned. A fourth shot for the day was not loaded and was subsequently partially backfilled before charging (when fired this blast was compliant).
7-Sep-11 Grey Street 5.3
Single pulse peaked above 5mm/s in last panel. This and the 02 Sept exceedances investigated together; reduce charge weights to minimum (3kg per hole) in similar circumstances, and trial initiating blasts from east to west (previously north to south).
29-Sep-11 Grey Street 5.5
Two spikes in first panel registered above 5mm/s limit. Previous blast on bench above had the same charge rate (4kg) per hole but only registered 2.8mm/s. Further investigation proposed and reduction in charge to 3kg per hole.
Rolling 6 month period Blasts Exceedances 227 6
97.4%
Compliance
Complaints / Concerns Summary Report July – December 2011
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Figure 2: Blast-related Complaint Trends by Month
2.3 Air Emissions
24 dust complaints were received during the reporting period. This increase over the four complaints in the previous period is considered due to several factors:
All complaints were made subsequent to the announcement of the mine expansion plans. Extensive consultation following the announcement provided additional opportunity for concerns to be raised.
12 complaints were received in November, when abnormally low rainfall and strong south-westerly winds increased dust levels across the district. All monitored dust levels were elevated, including monitoring sites upwind of any mining operations.
Stockpiling activities in the pit during the reporting period meant equipment working on top of the stockpile were visible outside of the pit.
Two oversights in pit operation during November included a watercart breakdown of 36 hours (with no back-up) and no sprinkler initially installed on a temporary crusher.
Waikato Regional Council also advises Newmont of any complaints it receives. Four complaints were received by WRC during the reporting period.
For details and mitigating actions please refer to complaints summary in Appendix 1 of this report.
A DP gauge was installed at a property in Gladstone Road in April 2011 following concerns from a resident. This gauge will be retained through the 2011/12 summer to provide a more complete representation.
The graph below shows monitoring results from the complainant’s property and nearby routine monitoring sites during the period.
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Figure 3: – Dust monitoring in response to complaints
Complainant concerns are tabled at Management meetings which ensure appropriate mitigation measures are implemented. Total suspended particulate (TSP) & deposited particulate (DP) monitoring results are shown in Figures 4 & 5 respectively. There were no exceedances of the DP or TSP limits during the reporting period.
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Figure 4: Total Suspended Particulate
Complaints / Concerns Summary Report July – December 2011
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Figure 5: Deposited Particulate
2.4 Property
Three property complaints were received during the reporting period in regard to the Martha operation.
For details and mitigating actions, please refer to complaints summary in Appendix 1 of this report.
2.5 BRANZ Surveys
As reported in the January to June 2011 report a Dobson St and Pickett Place resident felt their house had damage caused by mining operations. Since this report both houses have been inspected by BRANZ and in both cases mining operations were not seen as the cause for any damage to these two properties. Both residents have been sent a copy of the BRANZ report.
2.6 Traffic
A Boyd Road resident rang to say there was a lot of traffic going down Barry Road and had woken them up. Trees had fallen across the mill bridge (Baxters Road) due to high winds. These trees needed to be cleared to allow access to the site leaving the only access to the mill area via Barry Road (Favona vent shaft access road).
A detailed explanation of this complaint can be found in Appendix 1 of this report.
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2.7 Amenity Effects Programme
Four complaints were received from residents who felt they should qualify for the Amenity Effects Programme.
A detailed explanation of these complaints can be found in Appendix 1 of this report.
2.8 Weed Spraying
A complaint was received from a Roycroft Street resident who rang to ask why Newmont were spraying on a windy day and wanted it stopped.
A detailed explanation of these complaints can be found in Appendix 1 of this report.
Complaints / Concerns Summary Report July – December 2011
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Section B - FAVONA & TRIO UNDERGROUND PROJECTS
3 FAVONA & TRIO UNDERGROUND PROJECTS SUMMARY RESULTS
Complaints received during the July to December 2011 period in respect of both the Favona and TRIO Underground projects are summarised in the following table. A detailed list of the complaints is provided in Appendix 2.
Complaints by type were:
Type Number Period
Vibration 46 July - December
Noise 2 August - November
Property 1 July
Noise from Blasting 8 July - November
Staff Behaviour 2 October
Total 59
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Cu
mu
lati
ve T
ota
ls
Mo
nth
ly T
ota
ls
FAVONA & TRIO July-December 2011
Noise Noise from Blasting Vibration
Property Staff Behaviour Total Noise from Blasting
Total Noise Total Vibration Total Property
Total Staff Behaviour
Nb: Issues that received one or fewer complaints during the period have not been graphed
Figure 5: Complaint Trends by Month
Complaints / Concerns Summary Report July – December 2011
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3.1 Vibration
No vibration exceedances were recorded during the reporting period from underground blasting. As at 31 December 2011, vibration compliance for underground was 99.4%.
Forty six vibration complaints from 18 separate locations were received during the reporting period. It should be noted that of the 47 vibration complaints recorded 27 came from 3 residents making up 58% of the total complaints received.
A detailed explanation of these complaints can be found in Appendix 2 of this report.
3.2 Noise
Four noise complaints were received from two separate residents during the reporting period.
For details and mitigating actions, please refer to complaints summary in Appendix 2 of this report.
3.3 Property
One property complaint was received during the reporting period.
A resident living in Barry Road rang to say she had wet carpet upstairs and it was the mines fault for shaking her house creating a leak.
For details and mitigating actions, please refer to complaints summary in Appendix 2 of this report.
3.4 Noise from Blasting
Seven complaints were received from two residents who experienced noise from blasting activities.
For details and mitigating actions, please refer to complaints summary in Appendix 2 of this report.
3.5 BRANZ Surveys
All properties identified by the commissioners during the TRIO consent hearing for structural surveys to be carried out prior to the commencement of development blasting, have now been inspected. Reports have not yet been received from BRANZ however on receipt of these a copy will be sent to the property owner. Production blasting is due to commence in June of this year.
3.6 Staff Behaviour
Two complaints were received from members of the public concerned about staff behaviour.
For details and mitigating actions, please refer to complaints summary in Appendix 2 of this report.
Complaints / Concerns Summary Report July – December 2011
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APPENDIX 1 – MARTHA OPEN PIT COMPLAINTS BREAKDOWN BY
DATE
LOCATION
COMPLAINTS SUMMARY
Complaints / Concerns Summary Report July – December 2011
Page 14
APPENDIX 2 – FAVONA & TRIO UNDERGROUND OPERATION BREAKDOWN BY
DATE
LOCATION
COMPLAINTS SUMMARY
