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Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds released a statement yesterday saying Forest & Bird was premature in taking the Southland District Council to court over coal exploration in Western Southland.
She said ratepayers would pay the price.
The council has granted an application from New Brighton Collieries Ltd, which is owned by Bathurst Resources Ltd, to carry out exploratory work for coal at its Ohai forestry block.
Forest & Bird is seeking a judicial review of a decision by the Southland District Council to grant a coal company access to forestry land near Nightcaps, citing climate change concerns.
Ms Simmonds said Forest & Bird was being overhasty in its legal action against the council.
"The council has simply granted exploratory access to the land at this time. Any future removal of coal would still require a new publicly notified resource consent process," she said.
"For Forest & Bird to seek a judicial review of a decision which is yet to actually involve coal mining is premature and heavy-handed, because decent Southlanders could face a hefty legal bill.
"It’s also disappointing that Forest & Bird has chosen litigation in the first instance, before even approaching the council with its concerns.
"Last year we imported more coal into our country than we have in 14 years, and it’s anticipated that this year coal imports will break that record. This makes a mockery of Forest & Bird’s court action."
She said the country should, of course, move away from relying on coal and move to more sustainable energy sources.
"No-one is debating that, but in the meantime if we’re not producing coal here it’s likely it will be imported into our country anyway."
