‘It’s dole or coal’: West Coast mayors welcome less red tape for coal mines
Wednesday, 17 April 2024
West Coast mayors are welcoming the Government’s plan to cut red tape for coal miners, while environmentalists say it is a climate change disaster.
Resources Minister Shane Jones announced changes to the Resource Management Act on Tuesday, which he said would treat coal mining the same as other extractive mining.
Forest & Bird condemned the proposal, saying it would increase environmentally destructive coal mining in wetlands and areas of significant biodiversity.
Jones said the inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared to other extractive activities, which had similar environmental effects, was burdensome red tape and a barrier holding back economic development
Additional controls introduced by the previous Government, which would have ended the consenting pathway for existing thermal coal mines from December 31, 2030, would also be removed. The environmental protections all mining was subject to would not be removed, and the new legislation would not involve schedule 4 land, including National Parks.
“This position ensures New Zealand’s industrial processors will have access to domestic coal and not be forced to rely on imported coal to meet their needs,” Jones said.
“Coal is a small but mighty part of New Zealand’s productive output and makes a significant contribution to regional economies.”
Coal extraction provided for the families of 280 workers at Stockton Mine, north of Westport on the West Coast, which produced about 80% of New Zealand’s $300 million worth of premium coal exports, used in international steelmaking.
Grey district mayor Tania Gibson said she hoped the new legislation would allow more coal mines to open on the West Coast, including Spring Creek near Greymouth.
Terra Firma lodged a mining permit application to reopen the mine in 2020, but New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals issued an intention to decline it in 2022. The application remains in limbo.
Gibson said the mine would employ 50 people directly and the coal would be used to produce the silicon used in solar panels.
“Like Shane Jones said, it’s dole or coal. I applaud him. We need coal for new technology. We have high-quality coal on the West Coast and the alternative is to import it from places that don’t have the same environmental and labour laws that we do.”
Buller mayor Jamie Cleine said Stockton’s lifespan was “quite finite”, with about eight years left if it couldn’t access more land.
“Coal continues to be one of our largest high value employers, particularly in Westport.”
The coal companies regularly donated to community projects and mitigated environmental effects with predator control operations, Cleine said.
However, Forest & Bird general counsel Peter Anderson said it was a “triple-hit on the environment”.
“First it will enable destruction of wetlands that are home to unique plants and wildlife. Second, wetlands are key carbon stores. Third, that coal would keep being burnt right into the 2040s and later, by businesses that need to get out of burning coal now.
“This is short-sighted, environmental and climate vandalism.”
Forest & Bird won a pivotal Environment Court case against Stevenson Mining’s proposed Te Kuha mine near Westport last April, partly because it would have damaged a natural inland wetland.
Coal Action Network Aotearoa spokesperson Jenny Campbell said Jones needed to understand the world has moved on from the industrial revolution - and coal.
“Siding with the dinosaurs won’t do his grandchildren any favours. While Fonterra’s getting out of coal as fast as possible because its international customers are demanding it, Caveman Shane wants to take us back to the dark ages.”
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said coal was the “dirtiest of fossil fuels”, costing the planet and the next generation greatly.
“The Government must realise its actions now will have serious ramifications for our immediate future, manifesting all the more climate-charged extreme weather events and tragedies.”
She said New Zealand’s total use of coal dropped over 30% in 2022.