Anti mining talk of 'war'

The Government's continued push to free up parts of the Conservation Department estate for mining operations has been described as "the great betrayal" by Coromandel environmentalists.

And they promise they are gearing up for "war", promising a repeat of anti-mining battles of the 1970s and 1980s.

In a speech to Parliament yesterday, Prime Minister John Key indicated the Government would make major changes to the Crown Minerals Act Schedule 4 protection for some tracts of Conservation land.

"This is because new mining on Crown land has the potential to increase economic growth and create jobs."

Schedule 4 protects about a third of conservation estate land from mining because of its conservation value, including parts of the Coromandel Peninsula north of State Highway 25A, and internal waters of the peninsula.

Clive Monds, treasurer of the Thames Coast Protection Society, said the moves by the National-led Government were "the great betrayal" after Jenny Shipley's National Government passed Schedule 4 protection in 1997.

"You had people like (current Environment Minister) Nick Smith saying he looks forward to not having to consider mining applications in those areas where nature should be able to rule the roost," Mr Monds said.

Mr Monds said Mr Key's announcement yesterday "consolidates and confirms the Government is going to go down this route, and that was no great surprise to us".

"We've been gearing up for a major battle on this, and we're ready for this." Mr Monds believed Mr Key and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee had "already made their minds up, and it's just a matter of how far they're prepared to go".

He believed the anti-mining battles of the 1970s and 1980s were equivalent to World War I, and it appeared World War II was looming.

Dennis Tegg, spokesman for Coromandel Watchdog, echoed Mr Monds' comments, and he felt Mr Key's announcement yesterday suggested the Government was on course to free up the land regardless of the public's views.

John Dow, chairman of mining industry group Straterra, said Mr Key's announcement would be greeted with enthusiasm from the mining industry, but he stressed mining operators were likely to investigate options in "low value" conservation land rather than pristine bush areas.

"Very small amounts of land are used." he said, often with "a tiny amount of surface disturbance".

He said mining operators knew they needed support of local communities to advance their operations.

- © Fairfax NZ News