Damien now anti mining

When Damien O’Connor was standing on the West Coast, he was pro mining. He was even accused of being out of step with his party.

But now he has left the West Coast, he is now passionately anti-mining. The Post reports:

Senior Labour MP Damien O’Connor has made his party’s strongest comments yet in opposition to a controversial gold mine planned near Cromwell.

“I’m starting to appreciate the expanse and the unique and fragile environment that is Central Otago,” O’Connor recently told a gathering at the proposed mine site at Bendigo, south of Tarras.

“You can’t just come and put a mine in.”

Such a man of principle.

“You hear a lot of claims from mining companies how they’ll benefit the local community. The reality is that, in the short term, local people will be affected, and can I say I empathise with those local people living here, who are right at the forefront of this disruption.

“There’ll be some short-term gains, contractors get work, then the medium and the long term issues must be considered.”

Here is what is interesting. Mining is actually hugely popular in the communities that have mines.

In an April poll Curia did for the NZ Minerals Council, we asked if people had a positive, neutral or negative view of mining in NZ. Here’s the breakdown by area.

People in Wellington don’t like mining. People who live where the mines are, love mining.