Save Happy Valley and Mt Augustus!

Regarding: State owned enterprise Solid Energy’s proposed open-cast coal mines in Happy Valley and on Mt Augustus, north Westland.

Ecological Value of Happy Valley and Mt Augustus:

Happy Valley and Mt Augustus are part of the Ngakawau Ecological District, a region officially noted for its ecological and geological significance. Happy Valley itself is one of the best examples of an undisturbed coal measure landscape, quite possibly the only remaining of its type globally. The presence of the coal measures over- and under-lain by impermeable sandstone result in poor drainage and therefore a wetland ecosystem. As a result of this wetness, the region is habitat to many unique species, some endemic to the area, whilst also being repellent to many pest species that threaten and cause the decline of endemic populations elsewhere. As a result, the landscape is one of the least disturbed by human occupation in Aotearoa New Zealand and truly prehistoric.

Happy Valley and Mt Augustus are the exclusive homes of Powelliphanta patrickensis and Powelliphanta augustus respectively, two endemic species of giant carnivorous snail. Both species are listed as nationally endangered, and their populations are limited to around 1,000 each. Because the ecology of Happy Valley and Mt Augustus are sui generis, and both species of snail has evolved in situ over millennia, it is highly unlikely that they could thrive in any other location.

Happy Valley is also home to a large, unmanaged population of Great Spotted Kiwi (around 75-145 adult individuals in but one permitted mining area). Given the lack of predators such as possums and stoats, this species has been able to thrive without intervention. This again makes the region unique and highly valuable.

Happy Valley it part of a DOC recommended protection area, so classified in 1998 Powelliphanta patrickensis and Great Spotted Kiwi are both protected species under the provisions of the Wildlife Act 1953, the highest level of legal protection afforded to species under Aotearoa New Zealand law.

Likely impacts of proposed open-cast mining:

The proposed mining sites include around 40% of Powelliphanta patrickensis habitat that supports an estimated 74% of the total population (Kath Walker, Powelliphanta patrikensis expert) - the total population of this already endangered species would therefore be reduced to 26% of its current size! 14.5 ha of diverse red tussock wetland - representing 70% of the Ngakawau Ecological District wetland and unique even within the District – would be lost . The mining would destroy what has been a haven for Great Spotted Kiwi, a great loss to the national population and efforts to conserve this species.

The proposed mine would produce pollution of surface waterways and groundwater and acid mine drainage – many of the rivers draining the region of Solid Energy’s Stockton Mine are already polluted beyond recognition.

Acid mine drainage has a long-term and devastating impact. Coal mine waste products that are left to “rot” slowly produce a highly acidic and toxic discharge. This mixture can remain ineffectual for many years until disturbance such as earthquakes or landslides cause their movement and release. Therefore, pollution of the area and those downstream could continue for decades beyond closure of the mine, making re-establishment of previous habitats even less likely.

Removal of currently established plant species would encourage the encroachment of pests, as would drainage of the land. The absence of such pests is what currently allows species there to thrive and their establishment would again decrease the likelihood of ecological restoration in the future.

Proposed habitat transferral and “ecological rehabilitation”:

Solid Energy appears to have been granted permission to initiate this plan based upon a promise to temporarily transfer Powelliphanta habitat, preserve it during the mining operation and then “rehabilitate” the environment subsequent to mine closure. This is a highly dubious proposal and there is absolutely no scientific evidence that it could succeed. As mentioned above, the site’s ecology is intimately linked with the underlying bedrock structure, which would be destroyed by mining. The sites micro-climate is unique and again there is no evidence that any of the endemic species could survive in another location. Previous attempts at ecological transferral by the company of more robust sods have failed, and their commitment to the habitat’s preservation is in fact questionable (see below). Furthermore, the company has promised “rehabilitation”, not restoration, which is by no means a guarantee of genuine ecological reestablishment.

Mt Augustus:

Solid Energy are not playing fair – already they have moved more snails from Mt Augustus than they have resource consent to take and have furthermore sidelined the Powelliphanta expert they have been consulting. The snails they have already removed are being stored in ice cream containers in a fridge in Hokitika (!) with absolutely no guarantee of appropriate food provisions let alone an appropriately controlled environment. This situation must be urgently remedied and cannot be allowed to be repeated in Happy Valley.

Coal-mining and climate change:

Coal-mining is an environmentally and economically unsustainable enterprise. Coal is a fossil fuel and produces climate-changing gasses such as carbon dioxide in great concentrations when burned. The coal extracted from Happy Valley and Mt Augustus is likely to be soled into Asia and burnt in steel production. The predicted effects of climate change are well known in New Zealand, and our government ostensibly supports and encourages the use of renewable energy sources. Destroying ecologically significant areas for production of a fossil fuel is therefore completely outrageous.

Specific Requests:

1. Get your weight behind the campaign! More than anything, publicity is needed. People such as you could make a huge difference simply by publicly denouncing Solid Energy’s proposal;
2. Chris Carter has compromised his integrity as Conservation Minister by approving the proposal, and I request that you, as an MP, publicly call him to account for his decision;
3. Call Solid Energy to account for it’s transferral of Mt Augustus snails and the current method of storage;
4. Pass this brief on to other Members of Parliament; and pressure the labour caucus to support stopping coal mining at Happy Valley and on Mt Augustus.
5. Let me know what steps you take after this meeting.

# posted by gareth @ 10:53 AM