Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Snail decision a sad day in West Coast history
Snail decision a sad day in West Coast history
For immediate release
Sunday 17 December 2006
The West Coast branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society is saddened by an Environment Court decision allowing Solid Energy to continue its destruction of Powelliphanta "Augustus" habitat.
"It's unreasonable, in this day and age, to give coal mining an exemption from the country's environmental laws," said West Coast Forest and Bird spokesperson Dr Brian Anderson. "We're calling on the government to change the law so that coal mining licence holders have to meet the same environmental standards as everyone else."
The Environment Court ruled on Friday that state-owned miner Solid Energy was putting Powelliphanta "Augustus" at risk of extinction and that the company's actions would have breached the Resource Management Act, but that the court had no jurisdiction to stop the mining.
"We don't want the West Coast, which relies to such a large extent on tourism, to be known as the home of deliberate species extinction."
Ends
Gordon Campbell: On What’s Wrong With The Treaty Principles Bill
Ministry For Culture And Heritage: Reverberations Of Erebus Disaster Still Felt 45 Years Later
Watercare Services: No Cause For Concern After Slightly Elevated Levels Of Arsenic Detected In Treated Waikato River Water
Te Pāti Māori: Government’s First Year A ‘Catastrophe For Māori’
Department Of Internal Affairs: Samoan Citizenship Bill Passes Into Law
NZ National Party: National Acknowledges The Passing Of Hon Nikki Kaye
Mana Mokopuna: Children And Young People Share Vital Insights On Healing From Family Violence And Sexual Violence In New Report
