Mining: Brownlee’s Silk Purse
August 3rd, 2010
Overlooked in the coverage of Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee’s defeat on mineral exploration in conservation lands protected by Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act was a small, but important change in the rules relating to mining Crown land. In the past, the land-holding Minister has been responsible for the final decision. In the future, the Energy Minister will also be included in any such decisions.
Combined with the go-ahead for aero-magnetic surveys for the South Island West Coast and North Island – which local Govts in both regions had sought for years – this change is all Brownlee has to show for his efforts to open up a greater slice of the Crown estate to mineral exploitation.
While Brownlee’s attempt to put the best gloss on the mining U-turn lacked credibility, he is right about one thing. The issue excited serious, passionate debate about an issue of economic importance, at the same time raising the profile of NZ’s large, previously ignored mineral potential. The way the issue’s played out, it’s hard to imagine even unprotected conservation lands or Crown land outside the conservation estate being any easier to mine than before that debate started. After all, Schedule 4 lands have actually got larger by 12,400 hectares, thanks to the fact areas earmarked for inclusion as a quid pro quo for the proposed mining deal will still be added.
It remains to be seen whether the wider debate about mineral exploitation assists or detracts from new mining proposals that aren’t on protected conservation land. The numerous undersea ironsands initiatives off the West Coast of the North Island spring to mind as an early test. Environmental Defence Society director Gary Taylor was gracious, saying the mining decision “shows a Govt that is listening and is becoming more environmentally aware as it matures in office.” With a large number of environmental reforms under way, “this decision bodes well for good outcomes from those processes.” Taylor wasn’t so keen on the new joint decision-making powers, saying this was the only “unacceptable” element of the announcements.
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