Disappointment over Bathurst mine proposal
FWRA Press release
The Fairdown/Whareatea Residents
Association is disappointed with the recent decision
regarding the Bathurst mine proposal.
The association
recognizes the benefits the Escarpment mine project will
bring to the Buller District but is opposed to the location
of the coal handling facility in the midst of a heavily
populated rural community.
The Association’s 90
members, who are already under threat from a Hydro dam
development on unstable land above the area, now face the
prospect of having a 12m high x 300 m long coal stockpile,
vibrating dewatering screen and rail loadout facility
operating 24/7 in their midst at 45 db and discharging into
an unpolluted river.
The decision on the Escarpment
Mine was released on the 26th on the WCRC website and it has
not met any of the residents’ concerns.
It appears
that rocks on Denniston have been given more consideration
than people and property.
Throughout the consents process the Association has made it clear that as a whole they do not oppose the escarpment mine and recognise that there will be economic benefits to the wider Buller district. The FWRA position is one of trying to direct development in the best possible way for the benefit of the majority of people both socially, economically and environmentally.
We have
put forward a less damaging and disruptive location for the
stockpile and rail loadout facility with an ocean outfall
for treated water discharges. This direct route is much
shorter, within the area already affected by past mining
activities and has far fewer residents.
The granting
of consents to Kawatiri Energy to construct a Hydro Dam
prior to obtaining detailed geotechnical reports, was
ludicrous and this decision has led to further inappropriate
applications for industrial development in this area from
Bathurst Resources and Brightwater Engineering.
This leaves the residents at risk from an artificial dam constructed on top of landslide debris and from the dust, noise and water pollution experienced at similar coal handling and engineering facilities world wide.
Someone in authority needs to take a wider view of these singular applications and say, Stop! This is not the best overall outcome for our district.
There is a better way to
achieve the same economic objective and protect the people
and environment at the same time. To this end the Fairdown
/Whareatea residents will be appealing the consents decision
to the Environment
Court.
ends