Coal News No. 19
We can save the Augustus snail
We're coming into the New Year in a very favorable position.
Firstly
, we now have a broad coalition of environmental organisations wanting to save Powelliphanta Augustus from extinction. Although this is not yet an official coalition, it includes Save Happy Valley, Forest & Bird, Green Party, ECO and Buller Conservation Group. I'm sure Greenpeace and possibly Federated Mountain Clubs would include themselves too.
Second
, the Environment Court is highly critical of Solid Energy (SE), using harsh words like "noxious" and "offensive" to describe the company's behavior. The court describes the arrival of SE bulldozers as "catastrophic" for the snail (more on this later). The court agreed with the Department of Conservation and SHV that mining almost all of the snail's habitat is likely to make it extinct.
Third
, the public is becoming aware of the importance of the snails and this can only be helped with the publication of a new book, "Ghosts Of Gondwana". This explains their special place in history.
Fourth
, the country's biggest political parties, Labour and National, are in a race to be the greenest. They are aware that the Green Party is here to stay and they both need a coalition partner. They also know the public is becoming more and more concerned about global warming and biodiversity loss. This new situation opens up the possibility of the National Party wanting to save the snail (yes, miracles can happen!)
Fifth
, although Solid Energy is working as hard as it can to hunt down and shift the snails, some intact habitat remains. (SE says it has 40 workers hunting snails).
Why should SE get every last square meter of habitat with coal beneath it?
It'll be a big victory for us if we can claw back some habitat. It won't just be a kick in the teeth for an aggressive mining company. It'll also be a lesson to the government that it can't posture as the friend of endangered species while backing their extinction. Even a partial win at Mt Augustus will be a big boost for our campaign to save Happy Valley with its snails, kiwi and other treasures.
Environment Court Decision
The good part is the court's heavy criticism of SE for its shabby treatment of the snail.
The bad part is the ruling that SE operates at Stockton under the Coal Mines Act 1979, so it cannot order the company to operate under modern environmental law. However there is a plus in this for us. At least we now know where we stand and we can campaign to get the government to change the law. Having said that, Save Happy Valley Inc is appealing to the High Court, so who knows what the final outcome will be. If anyone wants a copy of the judges' decision, I can send.
Snail Hero
DOC's foremost snail expert Kath Walker received a two-fold tribute from the Environment Court. It accepted as correct her argument that mining the snail's habitat will likely send it to extinction. (Of course SE had a line-up of scientists saying the exact opposite.)
The court also made the unusual step of defending Kath from an attack on her integrity by SE's legal team, which claimed she is more of a green advocate than a scientist.
It isn't the first time Kath has come under pressure to buckle. She had a rough time in an earlier hearing. Following that, DOC tried to make her redundant.
Pete Lusk
Coal News goes to 55 people in NZ and overseas. Feel free to circulate to your friends.
