Council keeping options open on review

Southland District Council is keeping its options open on the review of Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act, which has highlighted two areas in Southland that could be investigated further for mining.

Senior policy analyst Rebecca Heerdegen recommended Council make a submission on the review and was seeking feedback from councillors. The areas for investigation are on Stewart Island and in the Longwoods. In addition, the Government is proposing to protect Burwood Bush Scientific Reserve.

Mayor Frana Cardno said she was gravely concerned about the whole review, not only in Southland but across the country.

"If we taint those areas, it will alter the way people feel about our country. Our tourism industry and its 100% Pure marketing campaign will be damaged.

"The best thing to do with Stewart Island is to make it into a big Ulva Island and people from throughout the world will search for places like that."

Mrs Cardno said she was not against mining in places like the Longwoods, but Council also had to take into account what its communities wanted and how mining could affect the water supplies.

Cr Diana Ridley said she had concerns about it too, but believed it is naïve not to want to find out what is under the ground.

"I would hate to see things that degradated Stewart Island but I am not unhappy about investigating what is there."

The majority of councillors said Council needed to keep its options open. The review is about investigating what is there, not about any actual mining. Councillors also noted that any mining proposal would have to get resource consent under the RMA, so the investigation would just be the first step of many before and mining could occur.

Cr Brian Dillon said he could see both sides of the argument, but things needed some consideration.

"We don't want to just throw things out. Deep Cove in Fiordland is a major tourist attraction and I don't see it as any different from mining as it is a big power station."

Cr Paul Duffy said the country needed to be careful.

"If you know what's in your grandmother's will you may look at your grandmother differently."

The draft submission will be presented to Council on April 28, with submissions closing May 4.