March 25, 2004 - Christchurch

No new mine for state owned polluter

Forest and Bird is sceptical about the reasons for Solid Energy's long overdue confession that its past mining operations at Strongman have caused environmental damage.

The organization says the Government should halt Solid Energy's proposed new Cypress Mine north west of Westport as the company's existing mines are such gross polluters.

"Actions speak louder than words. It is difficult to take seriously Solid Energy's promises "to do better in future" when its Stockton mine continues to be such a major polluter of the Ngakawau River and other waterways," Forest and Bird's West Coast branch spokesperson, Pete Lusk said.

"Its environmental mistakes are not just in the past. They are an ongoing reality."

"Solid Energy's 'confession,' over the past week, of 'past mistakes' could be seen as a sophisticated form of greenwash aimed at getting people to tolerate continuing severe environmental damage from its existing Stockton Mine and a whole new environmental disaster area at nearby Cypress Stream, just because the company is 'trying to do better'."

"At Stockton, hundreds of hectares of rock dumps cover the plateau, generating acid mine drainage. Coal left in open-air dumps weathers to a fine powder. Rain mixes this with water to produce an oil-like liquor that gets into streams, " Mr Lusk said.

"Upstream of Stockton's discharges you can drink from the Ngakawau River. Downstream of the discharges, coal fines and sediment leave your hands black and discolour the sea close to the river mouth. It's disgusting," he said

"Proposing a huge new open cast mine in the Cypress Stream area of the upper Waimangaroa valley is environmentally irresponsible when the company has failed to fix the major water pollution, weed spread and other problems at Stockton. Acid mine drainage is a known high risk on the Cypress site."

"The proposed Cypress mine would also destroy a distinctive and beautiful area with outstanding ecological and landscape values," he said.

"Allowing Cypress would substantially increase the environmental destruction caused by this Government owned company. Government should instead direct Solid Energy to remedy its past and present damage," he said.

Note: State coalminer Solid Energy has owned up to past mistakes when directors made their annual visit to the West Coast during the last week.

ENDS

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