June 18, 2014
EPA blocks undersea quarry
There’s jubilation in Ngati Ruanui at the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to reject an application to mine iron sands off the south Taranaki coast.
Runanga chief executive Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says Trans Tasman Resources was unable to show how it could protect the environment from the impacts of an unproven mining methodology.
Ngati Ruanui made extensive submissions to the EPA hearing panel on its cultural and environmental concerns, and on what it saw as a lack of consultation by Transtasman.
Ms Ngarewa-Packer says when no other group or local council stepped up to the mark, Ngati Ruanui took a community leadership role on the issue.
The company has 15 days to appeal the decision.
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