West Coast leaders say a planned law change to loosen consenting restrictions on coal mining will “be massive” for the regional economy.
In an interview with RNZ today, Resources Minister Shane Jones said it was time for common sense and to stop a “cancel culture” around coal.
Jones said pending changes to the Resource Management Act would reduce barriers to coal mining “so we overcome the statutory constipation” in the economy.
The climate change measures of the past decade had stifled New Zealand so it now couldn’t afford to pay for climate change measures, Jones told RNZ.
“Unless New Zealand has an economic surplus on a regular basis, you and I will not afford the climate change journey.”
Development West Coast chief executive Heath Milne said the potential economic opportunities for the New Zealand economy “are massive”.
“I would go so far to say that the current economic output for the minerals sector would easily be doubled,” Milne said.
“It’s not just our region that’s going to benefit from this. My personal view is that the checks and balances to ensure environmental… standards, etc, are absolutely important.
Indonesian coal is ‘keeping the North Island in power’
“But if the process is easier, then the potential economic benefits and opportunities that are there, are massive,” Milne said.
Buller Mayor Jamie Cleine described the law change as “absolutely, hugely positive” for his district where the Stockton mine provides about 400 direct and indirect jobs.
Cleine said clearing the consenting path meant the Stockton operation “seems finite”.
“They are a good operator: they support the community in lots of ways.”
West Coast Regional Council chairman Peter Haddock said the lifting of consenting restrictions was “very welcome” at a time when this country was importing over 1 million tonnes of cheap Indonesian coal “to keep the North Island in power”.
‘Great for our bloody economy — we’re revving to go’
Greymouth Mayor Tania Gibson said the West Coast group of mayors, chairs, and iwi leaders were of one mind on the issue.
“People don’t want to have these discussions about coal but the fact of the matter is we do.
“We think it’s great for our bloody economy and we’re revving to go,” Gibson said.
In the RNZ interview, Mr Jones said existing mining operations could already apply to extend their operations, “but we’ve got to overcome this religious disdain for coal.”
“Coal shouldn’t be treated as a leper, it is not a crime and I don’t subscribe to this hysteria that we hear on a regular basis.”
While NZ was reducing its dependence on hydrocarbons, it had to be balanced with the capacity of the current energy market, Jones told RNZ.
“If the power goes out and if we don’t have coal from time to time, we will have hospitals that won’t be operating on a consistent basis cause the power won’t be flowing.”
‘The worst contributor to climate change’
However, Peter Anderson of Forest and Bird told RNZ that coal should be subject “to more stringent” environmental standards as the impact of coal was worse than gas or other mineral extraction.
“In terms of the consequences for the climate, coal is the worst contributor to climate change,” Anderson said.
Coal Action Network Aotearoa have also reacted with horror, with spokeswoman Jenny Campbell saying Jones needed to move on from the Industrial Revolution.
“Caveman Shane wants to take us back to the dark ages,” she said.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.