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Greenpeace opposes the mine on the basis of its impact on climate change, and put in a submission against it. The Save Happy Valley Coalition is taking a lead on this campaign.
To learn more go to www.savehappyvalley.org.nz.
Solid Energy has gained resource consents for a huge open cast coal mine in the upper Waimangaroa Valley, 20 kms north-east of Westport.
The application area covers 256 hectares including Happy Valley and extends up the slopes of the Mt William Range. The mine involves two open-cast pits covering around 105 hectares and extending for two and a half kilometres.
Around half a million tonnes of coal would be removed annually over the proposed 10 year life of the mine, much of it for export.
When burnt, the coal will contribute 13 million tonnes of climate change causing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The mine will also destroy important ecosystems including the habitat of three endangered birds such as the endangered great spotted kiwi, risk polluting streams with acid mine drainage and allow weed infestation.
Due to the proposed mine's contribution to climate change and the impact on biodiversity and water quality, the Buller District and West Coast Regional Councils should not have issued resource consents for Solid Energy's Cypress Mine.
Solid Energy should clean up its other mine sites and existing water pollution problems and not to be allowed to destroy the unique and high quality landscapes of the upper Waimangaroa with another dirty mine.
Government should direct Solid Energy not to proceed with the mine and put the protection of indigenous biodiversity ahead of dividends from the SOE.
To learn more go to www.savehappyvalley.org.nz.
About the mine
Solid Energy has gained resource consents for a huge open cast coal mine in the upper Waimangaroa Valley, 20 kms north-east of Westport.
The application area covers 256 hectares including Happy Valley and extends up the slopes of the Mt William Range. The mine involves two open-cast pits covering around 105 hectares and extending for two and a half kilometres.
Around half a million tonnes of coal would be removed annually over the proposed 10 year life of the mine, much of it for export.
When burnt, the coal will contribute 13 million tonnes of climate change causing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The mine will also destroy important ecosystems including the habitat of three endangered birds such as the endangered great spotted kiwi, risk polluting streams with acid mine drainage and allow weed infestation.
Due to the proposed mine's contribution to climate change and the impact on biodiversity and water quality, the Buller District and West Coast Regional Councils should not have issued resource consents for Solid Energy's Cypress Mine.
Solid Energy should clean up its other mine sites and existing water pollution problems and not to be allowed to destroy the unique and high quality landscapes of the upper Waimangaroa with another dirty mine.
Government should direct Solid Energy not to proceed with the mine and put the protection of indigenous biodiversity ahead of dividends from the SOE.
