Rare snails to be moved

Conservation Minister Chris Carter has decided Solid Energy can move a small population of protected snails at its Stockton mine on the West Coast.

Solid Energy halted mining after discovering two live Powelliphanta augustus snails in a mining block on the Stockton Plateau on February 8.

Last week it asked Mr Carter and Energy Minister David Parker if it could move the giant snails and resume mining.

Mr Carter said the permit granted yesterday was separate from another application Solid Energy had made about moving another population of the snails living in an area the company wished to mine soon.