Miners have welcomed Government plans to manage the environmental effects of activities such as petroleum exploration and mining within New Zealand's exclusive economic zone and extended continental shelf.
Environment Minister Nick Smith said the area of ocean, 20-times New Zealand's land area, offered economic opportunities, but there had to be robust laws in place to protect the environment.
"This legislation is needed to fill the gap beyond the 12-mile limit of the Resource Management Act. We do not want to see in New Zealand the type of environmental disaster that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico last year," he said at the Environmental Defence Society Conference in Auckland.
Straterra chief executive Chris Baker said the current regime for the exclusive zones was not specific. There needed to be public input into applications for significant activity.
"Industry engages with others anyway, and this new legislation will formalise that.
"Having the Environmental Protection Authority as the consenting body is appropriate and it is hoped will lead to streamlined processing of applications," he said.
Chatham Rock Phosphate managing director Chris Castle said Dr Smith's proposal meant there would be a framework that would allow all of those with an interest to contribute to how the environmental effects of resources were administered.
Chatham Rock had an exploration licence to develop rock phosphate on the Chatham Rise seabed.
"Our exploration licence process took much longer than it should have because the Government officials were unsure of which rules to apply. We expect that a clearer framework will be better for everybody."
Chatham Rock expected to be among the first companies to use the new law if it were implemented by July 1 next year, Mr Castle said.
Environmental Protection Laws
• New Environmental Protection Authority to be responsible for consenting, monitoring and enforcement.
• Public notification and consultation required for all regulations and consents, and environmental impact assessments on all consents.
• A general duty to avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse environmental effects.
