It’s likely to be boom times ahead for heavy equipment suppliers as a new open-cast coalmine north of Westport is given the all clear by the Environment Court – ending a long-running legal battle to stop the development.
Bathurst Resources says its mine on the Denniston Plateau should be producing coal early next year.
The mine will be near Solid Energy’s Stockton mine and Bathurst’s existing Cascade mine.
Environmentalists’ repeated challenges in the High Court have failed and their case at the substantive hearing at the Environment Court was also dismissed yesterday.
The decision has been welcomed by local mayor, Tony Cockshorn, who described the decision as a win for the environment and the local economy.
Both Bathurst Resources and the Government have also welcomed the decision, citing 225 jobs at the mine and $1 billion for the economy over six years.
Energy and resources minister Simon Bridges says Bathurst Resources is also funding environmental programmes, including an anti-predator programme on the plateau and in nearby Kahurangi National Park.
“Approximately $85 million each year will go to employees, suppliers, contractors and transport providers,” Bridges says.
“This is great news for the West Coast. The mine will inject almost $1 billion into the New Zealand economy over six years, and provide $30 million each year in royalties and taxes..
“This is a significant injection into the local economies of Buller and the West Coast.
“Unlike what opponents might say, this is exactly the type of business investment New Zealand needs to create more jobs and higher incomes for New Zealanders,” adds Bridges.
Bridges says the Escarpment Mine is expected to produce around 1 million tonnes of high quality coking coal annually for the life of the mine, and includes plans for related infrastructure.
