Protesters camp outside fast-tracked West Coast coal mine
Sunday, 20 April 2025
At least 70 protestors are camping on Denniston plateau on the West Coast in an attempt to stop Bathurst Resources mining and exporting coking coal.
The group arrived on the plateau to set up camp on Friday, and are displaying signs reading ‘Protect Denniston Plateau’ and ‘Just Transition Off Coal’.
Mining company Bathurst Resources is seeking fast-track approval to extend its Stockton mine, after being selected for fast tracking in October.
The company aims to extend the life of the near-depleted mine for another 25 years, and mine 20 million tonnes of coking coal for export.
It has said the project will secure the existing Stockton infrastructure and mining operations, provide access to additional mining areas, and retain about 390 direct jobs in Buller district and another 50 jobs outside the region.
Coal from the mine is used in the manufacture of structural steel and other building materials, solar panels and carbon fibre components.
Bathurst Resources says the high reactivity and low-impurity nature of West Coast coal means the amount of fuel (coking coal) required to produce a tonne of steel is reduced.
Mining has been going on at the site for 100 years.
One of the protesters, Rosie Cruickshank, aged 20, said the plateau is more than 40 million years old and home to threatened species including the great spotted kiwi, and an endangered giant snail.
“They will not quietly destroy this beautiful country - we will stop them. This is just the beginning,” she said.
Cora Scott, also aged 20, said the fast-track laws “could enable companies like Bathurst to ruin precious wild places in pursuit of profit”.
“Bathurst don’t care about anything besides the profit they make for their shareholders,” said Scott.
“The fast-track dismantles democracy and enables companies like Bathurst to make big money and leave behind a big mess.”
Scott described the climate crisis as “terrifying”.
“This is the first action of many to make sure this coal mine doesn’t go ahead,” she said.
Coal Action Network, a lobby group which is planning its own protest outside Bathurst’s Wellington offices on Tuesday, said it applauded the efforts of the campers.