Arabic version: سام نيل يعارض منجم الذهب المثير للجدل بالقرب من كرمه

Actor Sam Neill has joined the fight against the proposed Bendigo-Ophir goldmine, located just a few kilometres from his vineyard in Central Otago, New Zealand. Neill, who has deep familial ties to the land, described it as “one of the most beautiful and strange, remote places in the world”. According to The Guardian, he fears the landscape will be permanently altered if the mining project is approved.

The Bendigo-Ophir goldmine, proposed by Australian company Santana Minerals, is seeking fast-track approval to create a 1,000 metre by 850 metre open-cast mine in an area recognized for its outstanding natural landscape. The company estimates the site holds $6.75 billion in gold deposits. However, local environmental group Sustainable Tarras argues that the mine poses a significant threat to both the environment and tourism in this wine-producing region.

Critics have raised concerns about the potential impact on native wildlife, including up to 650,000 lizards, and the risks associated with a dam that would store toxic waste from the mining operations. Neill, who has been producing wine in the region for 30 years, stated, “If this mine goes ahead – and God willing it won’t – everything that you see [there] is under a claim [by the mining company]. And there will be mining all around us, and that’ll be the end.”

The controversy surrounding the project highlights a growing divide in New Zealand, where the government is fast-tracking mining projects to boost the economy. Resources Minister Shane Jones claims the mine will create 357 jobs and indirectly support another 500 jobs annually, while opponents insist it could damage New Zealand’s reputation as a clean and green destination. Neill’s involvement has brought additional attention to the issue, as he presents a mini-documentary advocating for the preservation of the land.

Local sentiments are mixed, with some residents supporting the mine as a solution to economic challenges, while others, like winemaker Hayden Johnston, express concerns about the long-term ecological impact. Johnston emphasized the sustainability of grape growing compared to the irreversible damage caused by mining, stating, “Gold is a one-off. You crush the land. You make a huge, toxic legacy, but you can only take the gold out once.”