Review of DOC Estate for Mining welcomed

Media release – EMBARGOED UNTIL 3PM, 22 MARCH, 2010

22 March 2010

Review of DOC Estate for Mining welcomed

The Petroleum Exploration and Production Association (PEPANZ) welcomes the Government's public consultation on the review of Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act under which Crown-owned land managed by the Department of Conservation is closed to exploration and mining.

PEPANZ Executive Officer John Pfahlert said today it makes common sense for the people of New Zealand to know where significant mineral resources are and to have a rational debate about their development.

“There has been widespread reporting that DOC lands contain significant mineral resources about to be extracted but this is not the case. We believe it is prudent for the Government to undertake a review to first determine what resources may lie under DOC lands, and under which areas in particular, and then have a rational debate as to the best use of that specific portion of the DOC estate.

“One third of New Zealand is held in the DOC estate and not all of it is comprised of pristine tourist areas, or is even necessarily environmentally sensitive. We should not just assume that the only use for every section of DOC lands is nature conservation and tourism or that mineral extraction can’t co-exist environmentally with those activities.

“Mineral extraction may have the potential to significantly improve the living standards of Kiwis without any loss of amenity or conservation value.”

Mr Pfahlert said the petroleum exploration and production sector has already shown the benefits that can flow to the country from carefully managed recovery of our natural resources.

“In 2009 the petroleum industry paid the crown $511m in royalties. Putting that figure in terms of public expenditure, that would be sufficient to pay for Transmission Gully in 3 years, or build a new Wellington Hospital every year.”

ENDS

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