No submission from DOC on iron-sand mining

A crew was sampling iron-sand for Trans-Tasman Resources in 2013. PHOTO/ FILE

It made a submission on iron-sand mining from the South Taranaki seabed last time, but will not be doing so this time, the Conservation Department says.

The department (DOC) has decided not to make a submission on the application by Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR) to mine iron-sand from the sea bed offshore from Patea.

DOC and its independent experts reviewed the latest application, DOC Central North Island communications advisor Steve Brightwell said. The department then provided TTR with comments and requested amendments to the draft conditions to address potential adverse effects on the marine environment.

TTR accepted all the revised conditions and amendments to the monitoring and management plans that DOC asked for. The department does not consider that further conservation gains will be made by submitting on the application.

It signed a confidentiality agreement covering commercial and technical aspects of the proposal to enable it to assess the application. The current application has been heavily revised since the first one was refused consent in 2014.

Trans-Tasman's application will be considered by a decision making committee appointed by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

The hearings process is the appropriate forum to deal with any issues raised in submissions, Mr Brightwell said. DOC will not be making any further comment while the EPA process is under way.