Call For Commonsense In Coromandel
Friday 6 Aug 2004
Ken Shirley - Press Releases - Environment & Conservation
ACT New Zealand Environment and Conservation Spokesman Ken Shirley today called on the Labour Government to heed an
Environment Court decision on mining in the Coromandel and lift the outright access ban imposed under the Crown Minerals
Act.
"The Court's decision has overturned the Thames Coromandel District Council's plan, which effectively banned mining as
an activity. The Resource Management Act was intended to be enabling and effects-based, rather than to have sweeping
prohibitions on particular activities without evaluating any adverse environmental impact," Mr Shirley said.
"Modern underground mining techniques enable the extraction of precious minerals with minimal adverse environmental
impact. Over $10 billion of mineral wealth is known to be accessible in the Coromandel. As a country, we simply cannot
afford to turn our back on this resource for no good reason.
"In 1997 the National Government - supported by Labour - imposed a blanket ban on access to minerals on DOC land in the
Coromandel. There was no valid justification for this ban but, rather, the two main parties were engaged in a bidding
war to court the Green vote.
"I note that Jim Anderton's Economic Development Ministry has welcomed the Environment Court's decision. But, now that
mining can proceed as an activity, Mr Anderton must tackle the Conservation Minister and Prime Minister to overturn the
access bans imposed by Government under the Crown Minerals Act.
"This will be a test for Mr Anderton's determination and sincerity," Mr Shirley said.
ENDS