Whanganui District Council takes stand against seabed mining

TTR's proposal to mine the seabed in the South Taranaki Bight is included in the Government's fast-track approvals list. Photo / NZME

Whanganui District councillors have opposed seabed mining in the South Taranaki Bight and applauded an impassioned first-term councillor for bringing the issue to the table.

Councillor Charlotte Melser’s motion opposing seabed mining by Australian mining company Trans-Tasman Resources Limited (TTR) won unanimous support, despite two councillors initially speaking against it.

“This is a boom-and-bust industry, one that leaves devastation behind it,” Melser said.

“We need to send a message to our Government that we do not support filling the coffers of offshore companies at the expense of our environment, our communities, and our fisheries.”

The company’s scheme to mine up to 50 million tonnes a year for 30 years has been included in the Government’s list of projects under the Fast-track Approvals Bill.

Melser told Whanganui District Council on Tuesday the company had sought but failed to get marine consents for more than a decade, but could now reapply under the proposed Fast-track Approvals Bill, expected to pass its third reading soon.

“There has been long-standing opposition from the Taranaki and Manawatū community,” Melser said.

“We are talking about a mining development that the local community do not want – a development that has been fought by iwi/hāpu, community, environmental groups, the fishing industry, farmers, the conservation board and councils for a decade.”

Councillor Charlotte Melser's motion opposing seabed mining was unanimously supported. Photo / Bevan Conley

The Supreme Court overturned consents to mine the area in 2021.

“Earlier this year, TTR was back in hearings with the Environmental Protection Authority and, before the final decision could be made, the application was pulled because our Government had created a new pathway for them to apply through, and rolled out the red carpet for them to do so.”

Melser said the fast-track process would remove community and industry voices from decision-making.

“It cuts out the voices of those that have inherent connection to the marine area and some of those that are most knowledgeable about the environment and habitats.

“The fast track has the power to disregard district and regional plans, despite the fact that it will be local authorities’ responsibility and cost to build supporting infrastructure, and local authorities that are left with the destruction and mess to clean up at the end.”

South Taranaki District Council had publicly opposed seabed mining and south Taranaki iwi Ngāti Ruanui and Ngā Rauru had “consistently been on the front line of this fight”.

“We need to stand up for and with our neighbours. We need to stand up for our iwi, who stand with Ngāti Ruanui.

“We need to stand up for our own district, and fight for the economic opportunities that align with our values, our strategies and our industries,” Melser said.

Councillor Philippa Baker-Hogan said the motion had been brought because of the fast-track proposal and the speed with which the Government was moving on the bill.

She applauded Melser’s “quite outstanding young leadership from a first-term councillor”.

“It is very brave and courageous and the right thing to bring this to this table.”

The main impacts of the proposal would result from dumping 45 million tonnes of discharge back on to the seabed following the extraction process, creating a plume of sediment (sand and mud) that would impact the coastline from Cape Egmont to Kapiti Island.

“The plume will have significant adverse effects on the marine environment, including fisheries,” Melser said.

The South Taranaki Bight is thought to be home to 30 species of marine mammals, including blue whales and Māui dolphins.

Councillor Jenny Duncan said: “No one has spoken for the whales, dolphins and other mammals in the area, mammals that work on sonar. There would be constant noise in that area for 30 years – that will drive away any mammal or fish that requires sonar to exist”.

Melser said the proposal also competed with other commercial users of the area, such as fisheries, wind energy developers and tourism.

Abundant economic opportunities would be available through offshore wind development being investigated by wind energy companies.

“The wind industry has made it clear that these developments are incompatible [with seabed mining], with one major player pulling out altogether, citing this as the reason.”

TTR executive chairman Alan Eggers in October said the project to harvest iron sand for its iron ore, vanadium and titanium offered huge economic development opportunities for New Zealand.

This included hundreds of jobs in the Taranaki region and an additional 170 jobs in the wider region, with a $250 million annual spend on operations and staff, new infrastructure at Port Taranaki and Whanganui Port, and the establishment of a training institute and logistics hub in Hāwera and head office in New Plymouth.

“The project will have minimal impact on the South Taranaki Bight marine and coastal environment,” Eggers said.

“[It] provides an opportunity for New Zealand to become a world leader in marine mineral harvesting technologies and … to potentially be the largest producer of vanadium in the western world."

But Melser said seabed mining was a highly experimental new activity that had been banned in several states in Australia and had not been carried out anywhere else on the planet.

“The consequences of this style of resource extraction are still unknown.”

Mayor Andrew Tripe said he had no information to show seabed mining would produce benefits for Whanganui or its port.

Councillor Charlie Anderson said: “There are no obvious benefits. Why would we take the risk and face disaster on our beautiful coastline?”

Councillor Josh Chandulal-Mackay said the council could not divorce the environment from the economy.

“The damage to the marine environment would be enormous.”

Councillors Ross Fallen and Rob Vinsen spoke against the motion, Fallen calling for it to be tabled pending consultation with the community, and Vinsen suggesting the council should not take a position on the subject.

In the final vote, both changed their positions and supported the motion.

“I don’t ‘not oppose’,” Vinsen said.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.