“Greens Fast Track Mining Policy is Common Sense Leadership”
The environment group Coromandel Watchdog Hauraki is supportive of the mining policy related to the Fast Track law launched today by the Greens.
“At last someone is making a clear public commitment to revoke some of the consents issued under this draconian law which the Government plans to make even worse by Christmas” said Watchdog Co-Ordinator Augusta Macassey-Pickard who attended the launch at Parliament today
“The commitment to a reversal of consents for new hard rock gold mining, seabed mining and coal mining consents under Fast Track is a beacon of hope for communities fighting for forests, clean water and biodiversity. We have been involved in the Fast Track Panel process and its been extremely limited and narrow. We are halfway through the process for the Waihi North mining consent process which will allow underground mines in a conservation forest, threaten rare species, and create more toxic waste dumps and long term costs to our region. The company Oceana Gold is also applying to dig another huge open pit in Waihi and conduct more mining under that town. We have commented to the Panel with our 15 expert witnesses’ evidence, but there was so little time to respond to the numerous troubling issues raised in the Waihi North application. There is currently no scope for cross examination except by a Panel under severe time pressure with these huge applications. The Government is forcing unwise decision making upon the country and the foreign companies need to know that a new Government may not uphold these bad decisions.
The leadership by the Greens is a wake up call to the Opposition parties and Labour should immediately commit to reversing these consents’ said Augusta.
“The submissions close today on the even more draconian amendments Bill on the Fast Track, initiated by Shane Jones to ensure there is no public and iwi participation in the process unless Councils opt out, and strong Ministerial interference in the definitions of regional and national benefit. It’s a travesty of the so called democratic processes.
Our organisation is non-partisan and supports no political party but we support good policy and common sense and we hope other political parties will show the leadership the Greens have shown today“ Ms Macassey-Pickard said.