2 days ago
No Coal From Stockton Mine Today
Press Release – Climate Liberation Aotearoa
The International Court of Justice ruled last week that countries must address the 'urgent and existential threat' of climate change by cooperating to curb emissions and yet the Fast-Track Bill is enabling the expansion of the fossil fuel industry
Climate activists have climbed and occupied a bucket on the Stockton Mine aerial ropeway, effectively preventing coal from leaving Bathurst Resource's Stockton Mine, the biggest coal mine in New Zealand. The climbers are opposing Bathurst's Fast-Track application to open a 20 million tonne coal mine on the Denniston Plateau that would be the same size as Nelson city.
This is the second time this year that protestors have targeted Bathurst Resources regarding the proposed mine expansion on the Denniston Plateau. 'We will continue doing everything we can to oppose Bathurst Resources' proposed mine expansion into the Denniston Plateau. We will not stand idly by and accept this destruction,' says bucket occupier and Climate Liberation Aotearoa spokesperson Rach Andrews. 'This is an ecocidal project that puts foreign profit before life on earth. It is stealing from future generations to profit a few people.'
'The Fast-Track legislation has eroded the democratic process. There is no longer any way for members of the public to voice concerns about proposed projects like this coal mine on kiwi habitat. The New Zealand government has effectively forced communities to take actions like this if we want to be heard.'
Bathurst Resources Ltd is the biggest coal operator in New Zealand, with 90% of shareholdings owned by foreign investors. Bathurst's Fast-Track application states that they plan to mine 20 million tonnes of coal over 25 years from the Stockton and Denniston Plateaus to export coking coal to countries like Japan, India and China. [1] This single coal mine would generate at least 53 million tonnes of emissions, close to New Zealand's entire net emissions of 59 million tonnes. [2]
This month the Tasman area was flooded multiple times, receiving half a year's rain in two weeks, leaving large areas devastated with damage and loss of property. The expected cost of recovery is in the millions with a predicted sharp increase in the cost of fresh produce nationwide. Christopher Luxon announced they will provide $500,000 towards the clean up when the final cost could be more than a hundred times that.
'Extreme weather events like this will escalate the more the planet warms. We can see this happening in Aotearoa. These floods impact everyday people, where they live and work, while the likes of Richard Tacon, CEO of Bathurst, cares only about making money for himself and his shareholders' said Rach.
The International Court of Justice ruled last week that countries must address the 'urgent and existential threat' of climate change by cooperating to curb emissions and yet the Fast-Track Bill is enabling the expansion of the fossil fuel industry in New Zealand.
'We want Bathurst Resources to know that we won't sit back and let this happen – that this is not what New Zealanders want. We urge anyone who wants to protect our wildlife, who has had enough of cleaning up flood damaged property, to join us in stopping this coal mine and other Fast-Track projects.'
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