Consent hearing decision to refuse Bathurst Coal Limited

A hearing on resource consent applications by Bathurst Coal Limited (BCL) to authorise mining activities retrospectively, as well as for work to rehabilitate and close their Canterbury Coal Mine, has concluded.

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

Overall, the hearing found that BCL’s proposed rehabilitation work is inadequate next to the environmental impact of their mining activity or does not provide enough certainty of success.

A joint hearing was needed for BCL’s consent applications as the extent of the actual and potential environmental effects required public notification, which resulted in submissions from the public.

BCL have the right to appeal the decision within 15 working days.

The full report from the hearing can be found here.

BCL’s consent applications, the hearing submissions, meeting minutes, and additional reports can be found here.

The consents in question are as follows: Environment Canterbury: CRC184166, CRC200500, CRC201366, CRC201367, CRC201368, CRC203016, CRC214320, CRC214321; Selwyn District Council: RC-185662, RC185640.