7 December 2011

West Coasters Will Determine Their Own Future

West Coast people are in charge of their own destiny and won’t be told what to do by Auckland business lobbyists, Mayors Tony Kokshoorn and Pat McManus said today.

The Mayors were responding to a statement by lobby group Pure Advantage criticising mining on the Denniston Plateau.

“We agree that New Zealand should plan for a prosperous future based on sustainable businesses, but it’s a bit rich for airport magnates, airline executives and booze barons to tell us how to live our lives,” the Mayors said.

“Apparently, the West Coast is guilty of wanting our cake and eating it too. Pure Advantage members talk about branding, but they run airports, airlines, bus and car companies, Chinese-based manufacturing and spirit and wine companies – some of the most world’s most resource-intensive industries.

“All of these industries need steel. And steel is made with hard coking coal – the type of coal that’s found on the Denniston Plateau. This is high quality coal, not coal for use in power stations.”

Messrs Kokshoorn and McManus say it’s important to move away from fossil fuels over time, but the West Coast needs the hundreds of jobs on offer from re-opening old mines on the Plateau which has been mined for over 100 years.

“The West Coast needs these jobs to be provided by a responsible mining operator who will also fund the rehabilitation of the Plateau as well as the wider conservation estate for generations to come. That’s what’s on offer for our people and we’re ready to do business.”

Messrs Kokshoorn and McManus said they were open to discussions with Pure Advantage and would like to invite the group to visit the Denniston Plateau. They would also be interested to hear how Pure Advantage would replace the several hundred jobs provided by West Coast’s mining industry.

ENDS

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