3/09/12

Seabed mining proposals galvanise alarmed residents

Orgqnisers of a public meeting against seabed mining on Wednesday, are so concerned that there will be a full house at the Muriwai Fire Station, that they have organised an alternative venue to cope with numbers.

Previous proposals in the 90’s to mine on land near Muriwai met with near complete community opposition, expressed at a series of fully attended and highly vocal public meetings.

Kiwis Against Seabed Mining has been invited by the Muriwai Environment Org, to update the community on the state of imminent plans to mine the west coast seabed south of Taranaki.

Kasm president Phil McCabe says “Aucklanders may think a mining proposal so far away won’t affect them, but that’s not the case. The entire west coast from Whanganui to Cape Reinga is covered by prospecting or exploration licenses.”

“A host of international companies are preparing to extract large volumes from the west coast sea floor, and the first applications to actually mine are expected later this year. The results of these applications will become critical in the long-term management of the Tasman ecosystem, of which Muriwai is a part,” he says.

“We are an organisation whose remit is to provide information, and enable west coast residents to have a voice, but many residents don’t know what’s currently happening. For example, the Continental Shelf and EEZ effects bill, which was passed last Wednesday, is designed specifically to enable this kind of operation.”

“Our goal is to inform New Zealanders about the potential implications of current proposals. This meeting marks the start of a series of events that we will be holding over the next few months, that we are sure will be well attended.”

The implications of seabed mining in the Tasman Sea: Public meeting

Muriwai Fire Station, Muriwai, Wednesday 5th September at 7.30 pm.

Film, presentation, discussion. All welcome.

-ends-

© Scoop Media