The proposed mine would employ 64 staff and pump $20 million a year into the West Coast economy. Construction costs alone would be $40 million.
The high quality coal could be used for specialist applications, and there is a possibility of an activated carbon plant in Westport.
Rangitira has proposed a land exchange.
The DOC report says a larger proposal from Rangitira-Stevenson Group Ltd to mine the adjacent water conservation area (about 97ha), and an access arrangement application for that area, has been lodged with the Buller District Council.
The area includes exposed sandstone and vegetation including manuka, yellow silver pine and rimu and the threatened euphrasia wettsteiniana, commonly known as eyebright. It is also home to the West Coast green gecko.
The conservation land covers an area of ridgeline visible from State Highway 6 through the gorge and Westport township.
The report says the effect would be a loss of exposed sandstone, bluffs, scarps and tors, and changes to the ridgeline visible from Westport.
DOC said the Minister of Conservation deemed the application involved "significant mining activities".
The significance assessment report was posted on the DOC website at midday.
The 12ha access application forms part of a larger mining proposal, but the Minister of Conservation can only consider the activities and effects within the 12ha.
Other land is council-owned, privately owned, or Westport water conservation reserve, vested in the council for water purposes.
Submissions close with the Department of Conservation on March 9.
For more information go to:
www.doc.govt.nz/te-kuha-proposal -- GRS
- The Greymouth Star