West Coasters need jobs, not moralising from Auckland
Media release
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