To: Minister of Conservation
Please decline any access or concession arrangements for open cast coal mining on the Denniston Plateau.
The unique rock formation that makes up this ancient part of New Zealand gives rise to a rich mosaic of life that is only found here: bonsai gardens of rata, tussock and pygmy pine.
We do know that this is one of earth’s rare and special eco-systems, what we don’t know is how special it is – new species are being discovered all the time.
Instead, please implement Forest & Bird’s proposal for a Denniston reserve. This reserve would incorporate publically owned land on Denniston plateau, the upper Waimangaroa Gorge, the southern Stockton Plateau and the Mt William Range. It would exclude mine active mine sites and the small town of Denniston.
The Denniston Plateau and surrounding areas are, in the main, public conservation land or held as ‘unallocated’ by the Crown. Forest & Bird believes this area should be protected from the devastation of coal mining under Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act
