Coalmine dust unbearable: residents

BARRY HARCOURT/19248

AT THE MEETING: Eastern Coal New Zealand operations manager John Marnane addresses about 50 people at a public meeting in Nightcaps about the plans for the mine.

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An information evening organised by Takitimu Coal in Nightcaps last night became heated after several residents said dust was becoming unbearable in town.

Takitimu Coal has lodged a resource consent application with the Southland District Council to extend the mine into a privately owned 9 hectare area to the north.

In 2007 the mine was awarded a contract to supply Fonterra's Clandeboye manufacturing site, beating existing supplier Solid Energy, which has closed its Ohai mine. The company has since secured other dairy processing plant contracts.

After questions were raised at the meeting about an increase in dust from the mine, Eastern Coal New Zealand operations manager John Marnane acknowledged there needed to be improvements.

A new automated sprinkler system that could work 24 hours a day was being looked into, he said.

But several residents were unhappy with the response and said they would not sign off on the consent unless more was done.

An anonymous letter circulated to Nightcaps residents advertising the meeting said there was no other township so close to an opencast mine and people were being asked to put up with noise and dusty air.

Ratepayers didn't want to stop the mine but suggested a committee be set up to collect $1 per tonne compensation from the mine, it says.

Submissions on the resource consent application close on December 2.

shane.cowlishaw@stl.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News

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