Save Happy Valley Campaign Update 2
Kia ora koutou,
This update is primarily to confirm dates and details for the second campout at Happy Valley. It also contains some information on the Environment Court appeal, the recent Fitzsimons/Elder Energy debate, and Solid Energy's proposed coal-fired power stations on the West Coast.
Happy Valley Campout
The dates for the campout are: Saturday 28th August - Saturday 4th September
The campout is open to absolutely anyone - we want to get as many people as possible to this second campout. Some people will only be staying for the first weekend, while others won't be arriving until the Monday - please come for as long or as short as you can manage. It's important to get as many people up to Happy Valley to directly see what is going to be destroyed if the mine goes ahead.
The focus of the campout will be on campaign development - on deciding how we will be proceeding from here, on both a regional and national level. There will also be a tour of Stockton mine on Thursday 2nd September (limited numbers, unfortunately) and a party organised by the Dunedin crew (probably on Friday 3rd). Various ideas have been suggested for a media stunt - these will be decided upon at the campout itself.
If you would like to come along, please get in touch and we can give you details for meeting up with the group.
Environment Court Appeal
The resource consent decision for the proposed Happy Valley mine has been appealed by a variety of groups.
Forest & Bird, Buller Conservation Group (taking part as an "interested party"), Tai Poutini Conservation Board and Ngati WaeWae are opposed to an open cast mine in Happy Valley, while DoC and Ngakawau Riverwatch want much tighter conditions for a mine to go ahead. Solid Energy is also appealing, with a view to getting easier conditions.
Jeanette Fitzsimons/Don Elder Debate
On August 5th, a debate between Green MP Jeanette Fitzsimons and Don Elder, CEO of Solid Energy, took place in Dunedin, focusing on energy issues.
A large number of people concerned about the proposed Happy Valley mine were at the debate and asked a variety of questions regarding the mine in the second half of the event. Don Elder was generally unable to give any satisfactory answers to these questions.
With regard to climate change, while stating that a precautionary approach should be taken, to him this ultimately means crossing our fingers and hoping that carbon dioxide sequestration technology will be cheap enough to be economic in twenty years time (despite the fact that the United States has spend $5 billion on it with no success), and hoping furthermore that twenty years time won't be too late.
New Coal-Fired Power Stations on the West Coast?
Solid Energy says it will apply for resource consent early next year to build a coal-fired power station in the Buller region. Although originally planning a 150-megawatt station (to be situated north of Westport), two 120MW stations are now more likely.
As if the proposed mines at Happy Valley and Pike River weren't enough, it seems that coal-conscious environmentalists are going to have plenty to fight against in the near future.
So lets get active!
Hopefully, I'll see a number of you at the campout at the end of the month.
Best wishes,
Jonathan Oosterman (Save Happy Valley Campaign)
