20 July 2012

West Coasters Need Jobs, Not Moralising From Auckland

West Coast Mayors say they are tired of outsiders telling locals how they should live their lives, while spreading misinformation about mining on the Coast.

Mayors Tony Kokshoorn and Pat McManus said they were appalled that Auckland and Labour MP Phil Twyford had agreed to receive a petition from protesters opposed to coal mining on the Denniston Plateau – which is the birth place of the Labour Party.

“Activists wrongly claim that Denniston is a pristine environment. It’s been a working coalfield for more than 100 years and it should continue to be.

“A local coal mining company is prepared to invest in the field and provide hundreds of much needed jobs for local people.

“We cannot wait for operations to begin and we will not tolerate Aucklanders moralising about what we are doing.

“The world needs our hard coking coal to make steel and other modern goods and we are willing and able to supply it,” the Mayors said.

Messrs Kokshoorn and McManus said they were particularly bemused that many who signed the petition were based outside the West Coast, or even outside the country.

The Mayors said they were open to discussions with environmental groups and would like to invite them to visit the coalfield on the Denniston Plateau.

ENDS

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