Govt’s $256m mine clean up highlights all that is wrong with Fast Track powers

While you are busy with Christmas, the Government has abused the power of Urgency to ram through controversial legislation without the usual due process and scrutiny, one power has been the outargues Fast Track powers to bypass environmental and community concerns when it comes to extraction capitalism.

Fast-track amendment passes under urgency, backtracks on controversial proposals

The government has passed an amendment to the fast-track regime under urgency overnight, backtracking on several of the more controversial proposals in the process.

We are already seeing the legacy of allowing mining without environmental protections come back to bite us…

Govt’s $256m mine clean up significantly higher than estimate

The Government will have to fork out $256 million to clean up the Stockton coal mine on the West Coast, a figure significantly higher than previous estimates.

Treasury has prepared a business case for the long-term management of acid mine drainage (AMD) in preparation for when BT Mining leaves the site about 35km north of Westport.

…and we are seeing the impact of Fast Track already undermining the present…

Offshore wind firm exits NZ as seabed mine seeks consent

An offshore wind developer warned the Taranaki seabed mine would render its planned farm unviable. Now it is closing up shop in NZ.

…the Fast Track powers are a sop for polluters to push ahead with damaging environmental projects regardless of the impact on local communities.

It shouldn’t be getting rammed through Parliament while an exhausted citizenship are too beaten down to respond.

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