Press Release Coromandel Watchdog 5/8/04

Environment Court Decision on Mining Terrible

"The decision by the Environment Court this week, to allow a change in the Thames Coromandel District Scheme to allow underground mining on the Coromandel is an absurd decision that raises not only doubts about the Coromandel's future as a green destination, but also about the workings of the Resource Management Act itself," says Watchdog Spokesperson, Mark Tugendhaft.

Given enough lawyers anyone who wanted to prove that there is no difference between elephants and buses would have no problem. "Sure elephants and busses are both big, touch the ground in four places, carry people and smell bad, but they are not the same in the real world". This is how silly the decision was", says Mr. Tugendhaft. "

We believe that the Court interpreted definitions under the a Resource Management Act in a narrow, conservative and restrictive way. And failed totally to recognise the vast environmental differences between under ground mining, opencast mining, forestry and quarry operations. This is incredible as even the simplest level of understanding of these industries reveals massive differences", says Mr. Tugendhaft "

In this case the Thames District Council as well the Minister of Economic Development joined the mining industry. The Department of Conservation and Transit were nowhere to be seen. Public opinion was ignored completely. In simplest terms the residents of the Coromandel were betrayed by their Council , let down by the Department of conservation".

We are very disappointed at the whole affair and will look for any points of law that will allow us to appeal. Of course that will mean more fund raising. We must fight again to save the Coromandel. We all thought the mining issue was resolved years ago, " concludes Mr. Tugendhaft.

Coromandel Peninsula Watchdog Spokesperson

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