Lukautim solwara bilong yumi Tok Pisin

We stand with communities across the Huon Gulf who want to protect the ocean in which they fish, swim, and make their livelihood, and which is important to their culture and identity, from being a dumpsite for toxic mining waste, or ‘deep sea tailings placement' (DSTP).

Say No to Wafi-Golpu DSTP is a collaborative fight to protect the marine ecosystems and coastal communities of the Huon Gulf in Papua New Guinea, who are facing their ocean becoming a dumping site for hundreds of millions of tonnes of mining waste from the Wafi-Golpu copper and gold mine.


Say No to Wafi-Golpu DSTP is a collaboration between:

  • Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea 

  • Center for Environmental Law and Community Rights Inc (CELCOR) 

  • Jubilee Australia Research Centre 

  • Mineral Policy Institute 

We want the Australian companies involved, Newcrest Mining and Harmony Gold, to abandon their plan to dump mining waste into the Huon Gulf, and to publicly consider and release alternative solutions for disposing of mining waste that will not harm communities or marine ecosystems.

“For an Australian company to push ahead with this project, while there is still clear opposition from the communities who stand to lose the most, is unconscionable.” 


- DR CHARLES ROCHE, DIRECTOR, MINERAL POLICY INSTITUTE

ABOUT THE PARTNERS

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG) is a Church denomination located in Papua New Guinea. ELC-PNG has a membership of over 1.2 million all throughout Papua New Guinea, which is approximately 16 percent of the total 7.5 million population of the country. An Evangelical Lutheran Church is located in almost every village throughout the Morobe province. Jabem District, a geographical area overseen by the Church, is expected to be most affected by DSTP. It represents approximately 7 districts of Morobe’s 10 government districts. Therefore, when representatives of the Church speak on behalf of Jabem District, they represent three quarters of the Morobe population.

Center for Environmental Law and Community Rights Inc (CELCOR)

CELCOR is a not for profit, Papua New Guinean public interest environmental law firm. The fundamental purpose of CELCOR is to provide legal advice, legal education and assistance to landowners, Community Based Organizations (CBO’s) and NGOs involved in community-based natural resources management, environmental policy research and development and advocate for human rights and environmental justice. CELCOR has met directly with communities who are concerned that they will be impacted, and hosted workshops focused on legal rights.

Jubilee Australia Research Centre

Jubilee Australia Research Centre is an Australian not-for-profit organisation engaging in research and advocacy aimed at promoting economic justice for communities in the Asia-Pacific region, and accountability for Australian corporations and government agencies operating in the region. Jubilee Australia focuses its research and advocacy on the core issues of sustainable economies; community consent; justice; and the important question of what reform is needed to ensure that Australian government and corporate practices support community wellbeing as well as a just and sustainable global economy. Jubilee Australia supports our partners through research, communications, and advocacy.

Mineral Policy Institute

The Mineral Policy Institute (MPI) is an international civil society organisation focused on assisting communities affected by specific mining projects and on achieving industry reform through improvements to policy, law and practice. With a strong emphasis on self-determination and free, prior and informed consent, MPI undertakes a supportive background role to assist communities affected by mining. MPI aims to support communities to more effectively protect their rights and respond to mining. MPI operates from Australia, with a volunteer board representing members from across the world.

Why do we need to stop DSTP?

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