Coal fuels opposing views

Coal mining may become a political issue as opponents criticise Solid Energy and Bathurst Resources developments.

Between mining premium grade hard-coking coal for export through to conversion of lignite into briquettes, diesel and fertiliser, opposition by environmental groups and the Green Party is intensifying as resource consents are sought.

At the other end of the spectrum, industry-driven lobby group Straterra and Solid Energy remain bullish about developments and the potential for economic benefit, and Federated Farmers endorsed the Government's just-released energy strategy; which includes coal to fertiliser conversion.

Council consents granted last week to Bathurst to mine 200ha near Westport for two million tonnes of coking coal per year may yet be appealed by the West Coast Environment Network, and have been criticised by the Coal Action Network Aotearoa and interest groups.

West Coast Environment Network spokeswoman Karen Mayhew said the escarpment area of the Denniston plateau which Bathurst planned to mine "was a beautiful, biodiversity-rich and naturally resilient ecosystem". The lobby group was yet to decide whether to appeal the consents.

"The proposed damage to ecosystems and permanent loss of this stunning landscape, all on public conservation land, cannot be compensated for," she said in a statement.

She said the commissioners considering the consent applications were "troubled by the large-scale and long-term destruction envisaged" and the lack of mitigation options.

"Their decision has clearly been compromised by the Department of Conservation withholding from the hearing the detailed scientific evidence that it has gathered on the impacts of the proposed mine," Ms Mayhew claimed.

Coal Action Network Aotearoa, which submitted against Bathurst's application, wants to gain public momentum on its "Keep the Coal in the Hole", saying "climate change should be at the forefront of all discussions around coal mining".

"Burning coal is the dirtiest fossil-fuel activity on the planet and there are huge reserves of coal left worldwide.

"If we allow them to be burnt, we have no chance of avoiding a climate catastrophe," spokeswoman Frances Mountier said in a statement.

The first step was to stop new or expanded coal mines, which includes Bathurst's Denniston open-cast mine.

At the recent New Zealand branch conference of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy in Queenstown, chief executive Chris Baker of Straterra spoke on "exposing the anti-resource campaign", highlighting the industry had to meet environmental groups.

"The No 1 issue the industry faces is opposition based on ideology and misinformation," where opposition groups looked for issues to "hang their hats to gain a profile for their opposition".

While the contentious issue of "fracking" (high pressure water and chemicals injected to split rocks underground to release oil and gas) and deep-sea oil drilling were both "of legitimate concern", he claimed information being spread by some groups was often "unverifiable or unfounded" and skewed public perceptions.

Companies including Newmont Waihi, Oceana Gold and Solid Energy were "breaking new ground" in managing environmental impacts, mine rehabilitation, forging alliances with the Department of Conservation and using biodiversity offsets, such as predator control or threatened species programmes.

- simon.hartley@odt.co.nz