Dust-monitoring and bonds to cover the cost of restoring land, roads and groundwater supplies were the main issues discussed at the first meeting of the Earnscleugh gold mining project's liaison committee this week.
The 19-strong group, which was formed at the end of May after a public meeting on the L and M Mining project, comprises Earnscleugh residents and representatives of the mining company, the Central Otago District Council, the Otago Regional Council, the Department of Conservation and Beca Infrastructure Ltd.
Committee facilitator Tony Dons said the committee had asked for an extra dust monitoring site in the district.
There were six at present.
"It's fair to say another concern of the committee was that adequate bonds were in place in case L and M ran into any financial problems and couldn't complete the operation," Mr Dons said.
The company would lodge two bonds, worth a total of $400,000. One would go to the district council to cover road and land restoration, and another of $50,000 would go to the regional council for groundwater restoration.
