Denniston Plateau’s last day in Court

Wellington, 17 December 2012 – The four-week hearing to save the West Coast’s Denniston Plateau from an open-cast coal mine will come to end tomorrow. Forest & Bird has been leading the Environment Court appeal that began last month, against resource consents to develop a 190ha open-cast mine on the plateau by an Australian mining company.

Both parties are expected to conclude the hearing with closing submissions at Christchurch’s Cambridge Terrace Court House.

Denniston Plateau lies on public conservation land. The plateau’s unusual ecology is home to rare and endangered wildlife, and at least two new species were discovered this year.

Forest & Bird believes the plateau’s high conservation values warrant permanent protection from mining.

What: Final day of the hearing, Royal Forest & Bird Society of NZ Incorporated v Buller District Council and others
When: 10am, Tuesday 18 December
Where: Cambridge Terrace Court House, 99-101 Cambridge Tce, Christchurch

ENDS

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