The South Taranaki Bight is home to blue #whales, Māui and Hector’s #dolphins, kororā (little #penguins), and key fishing grounds. You may already know that it is under threat once again by the possibility of #SeabedMining. Trans Tasman Resources ( #TTR ) is seeking consent to #mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight - to dig up to 50 million tonnes of ironsands a year for over 30 years, dumping 45 million tonnes back onto the seafloor.
We’ve fought them before alongside our friends from Ngāti Ruanui, the local community, KASM, and other environmental groups.
TTR is now back before the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) with another chance to make a case for mining the seabed. The hearings begin tomorrow (13 March) in Hāwera and you can watch the livestream here.
We’re very concerned that the #mining proposal could be allowed under new fast-track legislation the new coalition Government is about to enact. The new fast-track bill is a radically anti-environment and undemocratic policy. It looks set to give unbridled power to just two Ministers to approve significant projects and avoid consultation for the protection of the #environment, #wildlife and #conservation efforts. It's a war on nature.
This bill is not only a chilling proposition for #nature but also for our #democracy. The Government is trying to suppress the public and dismiss the rights of #TangataWhenua by cutting them out of decisions that will have profound impacts on the #environment and impacted #communities.
If TTR is allowed to proceed without environmental checks and balances, it could have irreversible and highly destructive impacts on the #SouthTaranakiBight. I reckon we have a big fight ahead of us!
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