Industry quick to support Schedule 4 move

Posted in: In the News: Wednesday, 24 March 2010

Industry quick to support Schedule 4 move

NZResources.com

Mining industry leaders and industry groups were quick off the mark to support the detailing of areas that could be opened up for exploration under changes to Schedule 4.

At the same time vocal anti groups condemned the move, again portraying to the public that great areas of pristine country would be laid waste to mining and to pollution – never at any time suggesting that these unexplored areas may be only explored, perhaps on a cursory basis.

One national newspaper group ran a story saying Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee was opening up conservation land for mining, despite the fact that lobby group Straterra had pointed out that exploration success may mean less than 5% of the area could be for mining.

One of the more balanced comments came in yesterday’s New Zealand Herald through business columnist Fran O’Sullivan who said: “This is exactly the kind of diversification we ought to be considering if NZ is to grow to the point where young New Zealanders decide they can build a future here.

“But instead of discussing the proposals rationally, many prominent Kiwis simply go into default mode. This is where much of the opposition will bed in – the Nimby syndrome (not in my backyard).

“Carving off several conservation estate areas which are currently subject to production is not going to open the way to wholesale mining within NZ’s national parks. Mining already does take place in national parks thanks to the approvals issued by the Labour Government.

“But listening to Green co-leaders Metiria Turei and Norman Russell banging on about the plan to ‘responsible mine’ part of some parts of the conservation estate you would think that the Government has in mind nothing short of a Nauru-style dig up-the-entire-island approach.”

Solid Energy’s chief executive Don Elder said NZ’s natural resources are worth thousands of billions of dollars and are in many locations.

“Some are under farms in Southland; some are in marginal land of little other value. Some are under our seabed in our vast exclusive economic zone. Some are under areas of Crown land and some are also in Schedule 4 land including potentially under national parks,” he said.

“This is the opportunity for New Zealanders to understand the potential value of our mineral resources and to have a sensible and balanced national discussion about their use and that includes the constraints around their use.

“The decisions that we make today will impact on our country for decades, if not hundreds, of years and could bring significant benefits for generations to come,” he added.

Solid Energy, in focusing on the potential of lignite resources in Southland, understands the proper development of mineral resources requires enormous commitment and major responsibilities to a whole range of stakeholders and that it cannot be done at the expense of NZ’s unique natural environment.

“For that reason, we particularly support the proposal for a Conservation Fund which could draw on royalty revenue from mining operations on Crown land and resource special conservation projects to improve New Zealand’s overall natural environment.”

Acting chief executive of resource lobby group Straterra, Chris Baker, spent time this week telling journalists how mining was years beyond exploration and that exploration success was low.

Baker said: "Along with the majority of New Zealanders we believe the review merits rational and balanced public debate. It is therefore important that all of the information is on the table so that this debate is well informed.

"There is no question that the proper development of New Zealand's mineral resources has the capacity to significantly improve the standard of living of Kiwis and their communities, and we look forward to contributing to the dialogue generated by the review," Baker added.

The external affairs manager for Newmont Waihi Gold, Kelvyn Eglinton, said the company was looking forward to opportunities for debate presented by the release of the Government's public consultation document.

“The Schedule 4 debate has already encouraged a lot more people to talk about the issues.

“We consider this is a great opportunity to showcase to New Zealanders the advances that have taken place over the last 30 years in mining practices, mining technology and community consultation,” Eglinton said.

“As a mining company we will be one voice in the review process alongside community, conservation and governmental groups.”

The company said its exploration interest is in high-grade deposits in relatively low-value conservation localities that can be mined by small footprint underground methods.