Bathurst Coal Limited

Bathurst Coal Ltd applied to Environment Canterbury and Selwyn District Council for consents to continue operating and expand an open cast coal mine (known as Canterbury Coal Mine), including retrospective and future operation at Bush Gully Road, Malvern Hills, Selwyn.

In July 2021 Bathurst Coal Ltd advised the councils they had decided to close the Canterbury Coal Mine and continue with the processing of the applications with the necessary refinements for the rehabilitation and closure process. The additional detail on the closure process is outlined in the Addendum AEE for Closure and Rehabilitation.

Joint hearing

The joint hearing was held 26-29 October 2021 after hearing from the applicant, submitters and Council Reporting Officers.

The joint decision of the hearing is to refuse the consent applications.

Download the full report: Joint Hearing Decision of the Hearing Commissioners (PDF File, 677.22KB).

Environment Canterbury Applications
Selwyn District Council bundled application
Application and First RFI
Written approvals provided on 4 April 2019
First RFI Response - additional information re Cultural Impact Assessment
First RFI Response - Cultural Impact assessment
First RFI Response - Attachment 27 - Bush Gully Stream Wetland Management Plan
First RFI Response - Attachment 26 - Memorandum in response to Ecan mudfish boron review comment
First RFI Response - Attachment 25 - Chronic sensitivity of juvenile Canterburymudfish and periphyton to boron report
First RFI Response - Attachment 24 - CC03 and CC09 data
First RFI Response - Attachment 23 -Environment Monitoring sites map
First RFI Response - Attachment 22 - Annual Water Monitoring Report 2017-18
First RFI Response - Attachment 21 - Annual Water Monitoring Report 2016-17
First RFI Response - Attachment 20 - Water Ways Consulting ELF project Bush Gully Assessment - Aug 2016
First RFI Response - Attachment 19 - Tara Stream ecologica report - Sept 2016
First RFI Response - Attachment 18 - lizard habitat letter - June 2018
First RFI Response - Attachment 17 - Aquatic baseline assessment of ecological values of streams - Feb 2014
First RFI Response - Attachment 16 - Tara Stream Sediment retention pond ecological assessment
First RFI Response - Attachment 15 - Ecological significance assessment Tara North ELF Bush Gully - Feb 2017
First RFI Response - Attachment 14 - Ecological impact Assessment Report
First RFI Response - Attachment 13 - Summary plan pf Environment Canterbury Consents
First RFI Response - Attachment 12 - pre-mining landform contours
First RFI Response - Attachment 11 - Indicative visual simulations
First RFI Response - Attachment 10 - Indicative Landform Modelling
First RFI Response - Attachment 9 - Assessment of Noise and vibration effects
First RFI Response - Attachment 8 - amended site plan
First RFI Response - Attachment 7 - Lighting attachment night photos
First RFI Response Attachment 6 - Lighting effects
First RF Response - Attachment 5 - archaeological information
First RFI Response - Attachment 4 - Lane Neave letter
First RFI Response - Attachment 3 - Transport related comments
First RFI response - Attachment 2 - Proposed Conditions
First RFI Response - Attachment 1 - Transport related proposed conditions
First (RFI) Response - letter dated 15 Mar 2019
First s92 request for further information (RFI) - dated 13 Dec 2018
Vehicle Generation Application document
Main Application Document
Joint Notification

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACT 1991

Applicant: Bathurst Coal Limited

Address for service: Bathurst Coal Limited. C/- Edwina White. PO Box 5963, Lambton Quay, Wellington 6145. Email: Edwina.White@bathurst.co.nz

The Canterbury Regional Council and Selwyn District Council have received applications from Bathurst Coal Limited for various resource consents to continue operating and expand an open cast coal mine (known as Canterbury Coal Mine), including retrospective and future operation, at Bush Gully Road, Malvern Hills, in the Selwyn District.

The application site has been nominated by the Applicant. It comprises all of Pt Lot 3 DP 6591 (CB24B/403, CB7D/1140) and portions of the following: Legal Road (Bush Gully Road), RS 32347 (CB41A/436, CB8B/920), Pt Lot 2 DP 6591 (CB24B/403, CB576/48, CB7D/967), Pt Lot 2 DP 6591 (CB651/33), Pt Lot 1 DP 18018 (CB2D/1450, CB7D/965), Pt Lot 3 DP 6591 (CB651/33, CB7D/969) and Lot 3 DP 8898 (CB5A/1042).

The retrospective and future mining activity proposed includes ground disturbance, earthworks, removal and stockpiling of overburden, coal extraction, coal crushing and screening, trucking of coal from the site, trucking of Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR – coal ash) to the site, the formation of Engineered Landforms (ELFs), incorporation of overburden/CCR/mussel shells into the ELFs, site rehabilitation and replanting.

Stormwater and drainage water are collected and conveyed to storage ponds on-site for treatment, re-use for dust suppression and periodic discharge to the Tara Stream/Wetland.

The proposed hours of operation are 24 hours covering six days and five nights a week, with some restrictions and exceptions. The operation includes night-time lighting of the mine, the establishment of buildings and signage, reworking and rehabilitation of historical mine sites, dust suppression measures, light/service vehicle movements and the removal of wetland/seepages and indigenous and non-indigenous vegetation.

The applicant has applied for the following resource consents:

Canterbury Regional Council

  • CRC184166 – To undertake earthworks in the high soil erosion risk area, and earthworks and vegetation clearance in riparian margins, including the removal of wetland vegetation.
  • CRC200500 – To discharge contaminants to air (fugitive dust) from within the mine operations area.
  • CRC201366 – To take surface water from artificial ponds, to divert surface run-off resulting in changes to sub-catchment boundaries and to store water in artificial ponds.
  • CRC201367 – To take groundwater (via drainage systems)
  • CRC201368 – To discharge sediment and mine influenced water, drainage water and residual contaminants from the treatment of water to Tara Stream/Wetland.
  • CRC203016 – To discharge coal combustion residuals, lime products and mussel shells to land and to water (artificial watercourses)

The following consent terms have been sought:

  • CRC184166: 20 years;
  • CRC200500: 35 years;
  • CRC201366, CRC201367, CRC201368: 20 years; and
  • CRC203016: 20 years.

Selwyn District Council

  • RC185622 – To expand Canterbury Coal Mine, retrospective and future (a bundled land use application comprising two application documents and further information)

Submissions

The above applications may be viewed online or at the Environment Canterbury offices at 200 Tuam Street, Christchurch; or Selwyn District Council offices at 2 Norman Kirk Drive, Rolleston.

Any person may make a written submission on any of the above applications.

All submissions should be sent to Environment Canterbury, PO Box 345, Christchurch 8140; or emailed to hearings@ecan.govt.nz; with any signed written copy to be sent to the Applicant at the address for service detailed above.

Alternately an online submission to both applications can be made online.

A submission should include your name, address and phone number; the applicant’s name and consent application number. A submission must state your reason for submission, whether you support or oppose the application and if you wish to be heard in support of your submission.

For advice on the Environment Canterbury and Selwyn District Council applications please email: ecinfo@ecan.govt.nz or planning.technical@selwyn.govt.nz.

Submissions must be received by Environment Canterbury not later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday 21 April 2020. 

If you require a Word version of the submission form click here.

Joint Notification
CRC184166 CRC200500 CRC201366 CRC201367 CRC201368 CRC20302016 RC185622 - Submission Form
Submissions
The Applicant has supplied the further information response which can be read below.
View submissions
Submissions Y - Z

 

Hearing~~
Evidence from hearing