Solid Energy Stake-Out Illegal

Press release: Save Happy Valley Coalition FOR IMMEDIATE USE 4/4/07

Save Happy Valley activists tramping up Mt Augustus yesterday were appalled to find Solid Energy security guards preventing access to public conservation land. The two security guards continued to break the law by escorting the two activists back down the mountain.

"It is outrageous for a state owned enterprise to undertake security operations on public land - it is in breach of the Conservation Act. The security guards were hundreds of metres from the edge of the mine," said Save Happy Valley Coalition spokesperson Frances Mountier.

"Solid Energy's security operations are farcical. The security guards claimed "safety" as their reason for staking out the track - but safety on the ridgeline is threatened only by Solid Energy's operations and the guards themselves didn't even know the route, they lost it on the way down.

"A concession is required to carry out security operations on DOC land. A prime facie case already exists against Solid Energy security guards for a December 2005 breach of the Conservation Act" said Ms Mountier.

"We occupy Mt Augustus to actively prevent Solid Energy blasting the ridgeline habitat of Powelliphanta 'Augustus.' Solid Energy's desperation to keep us away just shows us how successful our action is.

"There is only one hectare of Powelliphanta Augustus habitat remaining. That one last hectare of coal is worthless compared to a native species. It is unbelievable that the Department of Conservation is continuing to aid and abet a company that is driving a native species to extinction. We do know that most DOC staff support our campaign – they do not want to contribute to active species extermination - orders are clearly coming from above them. So right now our occupation is the only hope for the species " said Ms Mountier.

ENDS

Media Contact Frances Mountier, 0211757484

Notes 1. Solid Energy are currently destroying 94% of the habitat of critically endangered Powelliphanta "Augustus" 2. The Save Happy Valley Coalition have been occupying the DOC area adjacent to the Stockton mine since 5 February in order to prevent blasting.

3. On 15 March, the Department of Conservation granted a continuous closure of a 300 m 'exclusion zone' adjacent to Mt Augustus to allow Solid Energy to continue destruction of the snail habitat uninhibited. This move disappointed environmentalists, given that DOC's statutory role involves species conservation, not extinction. 4. DOC also granted Solid Energy security guards the right to go onto this exclusion land to warn members of the public about of "safety risks" they undertake by being there, but no further.

5. Security guards have no authority on open public conservation land. 6. SHVC has already filed an official complaint over Solid Energy security guards illegally acting in their official capacity on DOC land. 7. The SHVC occupation of Mt Augustus continues.

ENDS

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