Anti-mining protestors target Solid Energy HQ

Anti-mining protesters were demonstrating from the roof of state coal miner Solid Energy's Christchurch headquarters this morning.

Save Happy Valley Coalition members scaled the building overnight and have hung banners from the facade, calling for Solid Energy to abandon plans for an open cast coal mine near Westport.

Coalition members began an indefinite occupation of land adjoining the Cypress mine site on January 28, claiming the proposed mine will destroy the habitat of the endangered great spotted kiwi and other threatened species.

Yesterday a protestor dressed up as a great spotted kiwi visited Parliament's grounds to highlight the cause.

Two coalition protesters appeared in Christchurch District Court last week charged with trespassing on railway land after tethering themselves to rail tracks last August to draw attention to their cause.

Solid Energy claims the land in the Happy Valley can be rehabilitated and has pledged to relocate kiwi and giant land snails that inhabit the area.

The company has complied with all consent and legal processes through the Environment Court and survived an appeal to the High Court over the mine.

A Solid Energy spokeswoman told said police had been called to the company's office to remove the protesters who were trespassing and police removed three people from the roof of the building about 10.30am. They were arrested and charged with being unlawfully on a building and were to appear in Christchurch District Court this afternoon.

Police said the three could face further charges.

- NZPA