18 Jun 2018

Buller mayor angry at coal mine denial

From Morning Report, 8:18 am on 18 June 2018

A decision to deny consent for a coal mine on conservation land on the West Coast has angered the local mayor. Rangitira Developments had won High Court approval for the mine but the use of twelve hectares of conservation land was vetoed by the Conservation Minister, Eugenie Sage. She said it was an undisturbed area with threatened plants and wildlife including the great spotted kiwi, land snails and lizards. Garry Howard is the mayor of the Buller District Council and says the decision was not based on logic. He talks to Alex Perrottet.