Court coal decision disappoints

West Coast Environment Network is extremely disappointed by an Environment
Court decision today which found climate change cannot be considered when
granting coal mining consents.

Today's decision, unless successfully appealed, means that environmental
groups will be unable to call climate change evidence against a proposed
opencast coal mine near Westport.

“The bottom line is that mining coal is the main contributor to climate
change” said West Cost Environment Network spokesperson Lynley Hargreaves.
“And we need our environmental laws to be able to take that into account.”

The Escarpment Mine, proposed by Australian company Bathurst Resources,
would destroy 200ha of high-value conservation land on the Denniston
Plateau near Westport. Resource consents granted for the mine last year
were appealed by West Coast Environment Network and Forest and Bird.

The recent hearing involved competing declarations sought by West Coast
Environment Network and Bathurst Resources/Solid Energy on a 2004
amendment to the Resource Management Act, excluding climate considerations
from discharge consents. Sir Geoffrey Palmer argued on behalf of West
Coast Environment Network.

Spokesperson Lynley Hargreaves said, “We believe the RMA can and should
take these greenhouse gas emissions into account; indeed, if it doesn't,
we risk them never being considered at all.”

She added, “The Denniston Plateau is important habitat for threatened
species, a natural sanctuary from predators, and along with the nearby
Stockton Plateau, unique. We believe the mine should be refused on
biodiversity grounds alone.”

“But, ironically, one of the greatest threats to West Coast biodiversity
is climate change. The damage this coal would do to the climate is a
global effect, but one that would effect the natural environment so many
New Zealanders value highly.”
ends

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