By Brendon McMahon, Local Democracy Reporter
Westland Mayor Bruce Smith says a mine in Buller could be a game changer for the region and its ports, and is urging a look at "the bigger picture".
Bruce Smith said "for every miner that's out there, that's 1.6 jobs created in the townships" (file picture). Photo: RNZ / Katie Todd
"This is an opportunity for Buller to have another core project," Smith told the combined West Coast Region and Buller District Council hearing panel, which is considering an application by Westland Mineral Sands to mine and extract heavy mineral concentrate from sand dunes on a Cape Foulwind dairy farm.
"It's really important that we look at the wider picture here and if this works; this is the beginning of a change we've dreamt of for the Coast for at least 40 years," Smith said.
The company is seeking resource consent to progressively mine a 25 hectare site on land currently being dairy farmed near Nine Mile at Okari, about 25km south-west of Westport.
The company proposes to strip back topsoil in 1-2ha strips before mining sand from an old secondary dune about 700m inland from the current coastline.
It is seeking a consent for 10 years with the right to renewal.
It has a vision to use the West Coast ports, starting with Westport, as the nexus for a coastal barging network. It could then be used by other industries.
Westland Mineral Sands has also forged a partnership with a Tainui hapū-based mineral sand project at Kawhia which would use its barges.
Smith said the close relationship between various sectors on the Coast had always been important.
He cited the Cape Foulwind cement works, which operated from 1958 to 2016.
"The ports are crucial," he said.
"If the port hadn't been there, the cement works wouldn't have been there. The townships are built around the entities that service extraction."
Smith noted the difficulty of establishing a viable business base in the region.
"The promoters have decided the logical place to start is Buller. That will see the port reverse from being a dying port to one that is growing again - and allow other businesses to grow."
This would enable the retention of the Westport dredge Kawatiri, and improve the port's capacity.
Smith said he hoped a successful operation in Buller would lead to a base in Westland.
The company has already purchased blocks near Hokitika and Fox Glacier.
"We have millions and millions of tons of sand which up until recent years we just played in - what a wonderful opportunity.
"Miners are traditionally well paid. We can't all be serving coffee on the Coast at $22 bucks an hour ... for every miner that's out there, that's 1.6 jobs created in the townships."
The lead commissioner, John Marson, thanked Smith for his submission noting the panel had to consider the wider dimension of environmental management "which is people and communities".
Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
