Cabinet minister Shane Jones is expected to draw a big crowd to Blackball tomorrow to hear him outline the government’s mining strategy - but protesters are also planning to picket the meeting.
Opponents of the Barrytown minerals sands proposal are making placards, and the North Canterbury branch of Forest & Bird is organising a group to travel to Blackball for the public meeting.
As Minister of Resources, Mr Jones’ pro-mining stance has delighted many on the West Coast, but horrified conservationists.