A Waihi ratepayers' group is calling for the Government to compensate about 50 property owners who will soon have the land beneath their houses mined for gold.
The mining company, Newmont Waihi Gold, has been granted a 12-year consent from the Environment Court to dig for gold under homes in Waihi East.
Waihi East Ratepayers' Group secretary Roger Wainhouse says the town is not against mining.
But he says the locals are angry with the Government for giving Newmont consent to extend the Correnso mine below their homes.
He says he raised the issue of fair compensation with Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges at a recent public meeting.
He says while Mr Bridges indicated he was receptive to the idea, he has not heard back.
He says a precedent has now been set that may affect other property owners around New Zealand in the future.
The consent for mining under the houses has strict conditions and allows for a smaller mine than Newmont Waihi Gold initially wanted.
Newmont Waihi Gold initially wanted to mine an area that took in the whole of Waihi East but the consent is for up to a third of the size it wanted.
Decision next year
A programme for property purchases - initially for a total of $4 million - will be set up for some residents who want to leave, levels of vibrations from drilling are strict and blasting will only be allowed three times a day.
The company expects to carry out more exploratory drilling in December, and make a final decision next year on whether the mine is a worthwhile venture.
Parties, including a resident and his wife, iwi, two ratepayers groups, Newmont - and two residents regarded as having knowledge that gave them a higher level of interest than the general public - appealed to the Environment Court after resource consent was originally granted by Hauraki District Counci. The groups subsequently reached an agreement with the company.
But a residents' group, the Distressed Residents Action Team says that noise, dust, vibrations, stress and property devaluation will affect residents if mining goes ahead, and it will be difficult to sell properties in the east with mining going on underneath them.
Spokesperson Collette Spalding predicts people selling other houses in Waihi not directly affected by the mining will have to drop their prices to compete on the market, she predicts.
The company has said the mine will produce about 600,000 ounces of gold over the 12 years the licence is valid.
