Shirley welcomes decision to lift mining ban
Hon. Ken Shirley
Tuesday, 6 September 2005
Press Releases - Environment & Conservation
ACT Environment, Conservation and Energy spokesman Ken Shirley today welcomed the Environment Court's decision to
overturn the ban on mining in the Coromandel.
"One of the basic principles of the RMA is that the law be 'effects-based' with each resource use proposal considered on
its merits and approved, amended or declined appropriately.
"The outright activity ban by the Thames-Coromandel District Council followed the Labour Government's similar ban of all
mining activities on conservation land in the Coromandel.
"This is an extremely foolish and narrow sighted approach that has more to do with political grandstanding than rational
analysis. If a low impact mining proposal involving high value precious metals can be shown to be beneficial then such
an activity should be approved with appropriate controls and safeguards imposed as conditions of approval.
"We could face the situation where an underground mining proposal might have an extremely limited impact on a very small
area of land and as part of the proposal the developers might be prepared to purchase and swap a significant larger area
of privately owned prime conservation land donating it to the conservation estate.
"This concept of net conservation benefit is core ACT policy and should be encouraged with win-win outcomes.
"It's been estimated that New Zealand has some $80 billion of mineral wealth that is substantially locked up under the
public estate managed by the DoC. To deny ourselves access to this wealth is extreme folly and ultimately self defeating
because it reduces our capacity to invest in environmental care," Mr Shirley said.
ENDS