by frog
Russel Norman just threw the Prime Minister some curve-balls in QuestionTime.
Does he stand by his statement that “the Pike River underground coalmine near Greymouth was an example of modern mining practices that had a minimal impact on the landscape”; if so, is he proud of the fact that Pike River coalmine has received not one but two fines for environmental pollution just in the last few months – and they haven’t even started producing coal yet!
Does he stand by his statement that “Modern mining is quite different from what we’ve seen in the past. Old-fashioned mining techniques did leave a scar on the landscape, modern mining techniques are quite different”; if so, is he proud of the fact that OceanaGold’s new gold mine on conservation land regularly receives fines for environmental pollution?
The PM’s answer was simply that the fact they’re getting fined for pollution is proof the system is working!
By analogy, does that mean that just because violent offenders are caught, that the system is working and we don’t have to worry about violence in society – as long as the cops catch them?
Russel also tabled infringement notices showing Pike River has twice illegally discharged coal-fines into a local river, and OceanaGold in Victoria Forest Conservation Park has been fined for polluting a local stream – indeed the latter records a sediment load 20 times worse below the mine’s discharge than above it!
Not good enough John. As I’ve blogged before “surgical modern mining” looks more like “trench warfare” in reality.
Published in Environment & Resource Management | Parliament by frog on Tue, October 13th, 2009
Tags: conservation land, fines, Metiria Turei, mining, national parks, pike river coal ltd, pike river coal mine, Pollution, Russel Norman, victoria forest park
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
Continuing frog’s analogy, we might as well serve convicted rapists with 20 hours community service.
It’s as ineffective as fining a Ferrari driver $100 for speeding.
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I was blown away when I heard John Key’s answer at question time today. Clearly he doesn’t care at all about the environmental costs of mining. Not the kind of person that you want reviewing national parks to see if they should be dug up…
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PM Limp?
Limp PM!
Limp PM pimps pristine wilderness to dirty old mining!
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Pike River has not even started mining yet and already it is breaking the rules. How can it be monitored? It operates behind “pass protected” military style entrances hidden from the rest of us. It is only the tip of a massive iceberg. Everywhere here are historic mining disasters – have we learned anything? No, our Minister of Tourism with his 100 per cent pure brand continues to hide behind the advertising hype and ignore the truth of once wild and scenic riverbeds choked with gorse,pits 30m deep full of water occupying 6km of riverbed and land that will take centuries to recover even if modern mining methods were used. 100 percent pure is a lie. Surgical Precision mining is a lie.
The endowment of the environment in our care is in critical danger and imminent attack led by no less than the Minister of Tourism and his 100% pure New Zealand ideals – Howzat for irony? Howzat?
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Tourism Minister undermines 100% pure attraction
Where’s the media? all turned to minions? can’t slag of the tory golden boy?
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…mining sucks, check out Waihi,the pits closed because of instability, workers have been deployed elsewhere and we are left sitting on an open cast gold mine pit 300mtrs deep in the centre of town that needs remedial works to stop the eastern and southern walls from collapsing, when that will occur is anyones guess could be tomorrow, could be next year, you know “things change” and how long and complicated these geotechnical report things can be
!! all the while the company is planning a mine extension,a gold discovery centre and a third tailings dam rather than the long promised mine closure and lake in 2007…( and no there are not any royalties paid on the martha mine gold ore they got consent to mine before the royalty law was passed) ahhh vent over
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