Source: New Zealand Minerals Council
The Green Party’s announcement today that it will revoke fast-track mining consents is performative nonsense, says New Zealand Minerals Council chief executive Josie Vidal.
“Today we are lodging our submission on the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill before Parliament. We support a series of sensible technical changes to improve the efficiency of the Fast-track Approvals Act and to further streamline project application processing time,” Vidal says.
“This is the work politicians should rightly be focused on, not putting out media releases that threaten jobs, the New Zealand economy, investment in New Zealand, and indeed our reputation as a place to do business.
“The Greens have produced an anti-mining policy without any consultation with the mining industry. Our mining industry makes a positive contribution to the New Zealand economy and does so in a way that minimises environmental impact. The Green’s policy makes New Zealand look frankly, ridiculous, when worldwide, there is competition for supply of the minerals we need for renewable energy, technology, medicine, and a better, healthier future.
“We need some economic drivers in New Zealand sooner, rather than later, and that is what the projects listed in the Fast-track Approvals Act are. It is disingenuous to suggest that projects that have been approved could suddenly be stopped for no valid legal reason – and certainly no reason based in facts, evidence and science.
“The mining sector supports New Zealand’s high environmental standards and does not seek to undermine this. We consider the Fast-track Approvals Act, as it stands, strikes this balance. Experience to-date shows that it is not the rubber stamp that many critics thought it would be. The panels have been rigorous in their analyses of projects.
“We are not looking for any weakening of existing environmental safeguards and there is a lot of ‘noise’ around this legislation suggesting this is happening, without any evidence.
“Mining is a highly productive industry and we estimate with the projects advancing in New Zealand at the moment, 2000-plus well-paid jobs will be added in regional New Zealand.
“Revoking the Fast-track Approvals Act wouldn’t stop mining. It would impose delays, costs and complexity to mining projects for no substantive gain to sustainable management of the environment.
“We look forward to engaging with the Environment Committee to ensure the Fast-track Approvals Act meets its Purpose, which is: The purpose of this Act is to facilitate the delivery of infrastructure and development projects with significant regional or national benefits.
“We believe that is the appropriate forum for people to have their say,” Vidal says.
New Zealand Minerals Council submission on the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill will be on its website once it is filed today.
