High Court rejects Watchdog appeal
- EDS seek to appeal to Court of Appeal

In a  Judgment delivered on the 2nd September 2005 the High Court rejected the appeal by Coromandel Watchdog and the Thames Coromandel District Council against an earlier Environment Court decision.

Subsequent to that Judgement, Environmental Defence Society lawyers on friday, 23rd September, lodged papers seeking leave for Coromandel Watchdog to challenge the decision in the Court of Appeal.... more

Coromandel Watchdog and the Thames Coromandel District Council joined forces to appeal the Environment Court decision on mining. The High Court in Auckland under Judge Simon France heard the appeal on 30th June and in the decision of 2nd September rejected it. Watchdog was represented at that hearing by Sir Geoffrey Palmer. 

Environment Court rejects Whangapoua sawmill

21.07.05 The Environment Court has rejected Blue Mountain Lumber's plans to build a $30 million sawmill near Whangapoua, Coromandel.
Paul Bibby, of the Whangapoua Environmental Protection Society, said the community had fought against the sawmill proposals for three years. "We're more than delighted," he said.
Paul Bibby said the application had been declined on the basis of the discharges to land and streams.

TCPS's push for a recycle shop at Thames is nearly there. The Seagull Centre Trust last month signed a lease agreement with the Thames Coromandel district Council and the site has been fenced. A building agreement  has been signed and a resource consent applied for.
Construction should be underway in June.

The Seagull Shop site on the road to the Thames Transfer Station.

   Paku Bay Marina turned down!!
The Court has turned down the marina appeal.  Access previous newsletters plus hearings reports.

No Mining - No way!

The battle to prevent mining on the Peninsula has reopened with a series of events flowing from the hearing of a longstanding appeal on the TCDC district plan and the infamous decision by the council's policy and planning committee to change council's position prior to the Environment Court hearing. This lead to the Environment Court decision denying prohibited status to mining. That decision is being appealed.

There were concerted move to revisit the Coromandel mining issue prior to the policy and planning meeting, not just by the mining industry but also the Crown Minerals division of the Ministry of Economic development who see minerals as a growth area of the economy.  The Coromandel is an area of focus. and that focus could be near you.

Our Society arose from the struggle by local people to prevent mining on the Coromandel Peninsula from the late 1970's on. Soon after the commencement of the Monowai hearing in 1987 the Tapu and Waiomu Action Groups combined as the Thames Coast Preservation and Protection Society Incorporated. ..more

That struggle continues but we also undertake a range of environmental protection roles such as pest control. We are involved in revegetation and in promoting waste minimisation and recycling.

A major recurring issue is preserving and protecting the scenic coast highway from repeated attempts to destroy the pohutukawa trees that make it such a special place. A battle we have fought repeatedly over many years.

Notice-board

Headlines

Week commencing 21 February 2005 Paku Bay Marina Environment Court hearing commences at Tairua. View Paku Bay Preservation Society newsletter and  other information on this critical case.

Media release - 3rd October, 2004. ECO

Watchdog pledge - Candidate responses

Candidate's mining statements

Ethics? - what ethics!

The difference between Quarrying & Mining

current mining  background

Watchdog press release

Environment Court decision pdf(526kb)

Recycle Shop seagull trust formed

Coast Rd Transit plans.

History with Transit

Mark & Nedilka roast Coffee as well as Miners -- from the Thames Organic Co-op shop or below