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Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith has given a Perth-based mining company the go-ahead to use land on the South Island's West Coast for an open-cast coal mine. The minister gave his endorsement for Bathurst Resources to mine "106 hectares of the 2026 hectares that comprise the Denniston Plateau". In issuing the approval he said, "I am…satisfied that the comprehensive conditions associated with this access agreement covering rehabilitation of the land, enhancement of water quality, health and safety, debris, rubbish and fire hazards, will minimise the adverse effects of the mine". However a pending Environment Court decision is still required before the green light can be given under the Resource Management Act. Conservation groups, such as the Forest & Bird Society, have vehemently opposed the proposed coal mine since consent was granted in 2011 by the West Coast Regional Council. Peter Anderson, lawyer and spokesperson for Forest & Bird, says although the decision from the minister was largely expected, the fight is far from over and they plan to appeal the decision. "We won't pick up our tent and go somewhere else simply because of this decision…we'll consider whether there's any legal scope to challenge by way of judicial review". He is worried by the long-term intentions of the mining companies, saying, "They have indicated their intention is to eventually mine the majority of the Plateau". Dr Smith insists that the approved area is "not National Park, nor Conservation Park". "It is general stewardship land, which is the lowest legal status of protection of land managed by the Department of Conservation".  Forest & Bird however says the "conservation values of the plateau where the mine would go" are being ignored. They believe the "devastating" decision is about politics, not conservation. “The plateau is home to an array of specialised wildlife. This mine tears right at the heart of the most important area of the plateau,” south field officer Debs Martin says. Bathurst Resources says the development will provide 225 jobs and contribute $1 billion to the New Zealand economy - however Ms Martin says the law prevents the Conservation Minister from taking economic considerations such as these into account when considering access arrangements. She says the "logical conclusion" under the Conservation Act should have been not to approve the mine. The National Government bowed to public protest in 2010 and promised public consultation for significant mining proposals on conservation land. With these law changes to the Crown Minerals Act due to come into effect tomorrow, Forest & Bird and the West Coast Environment Network claim that the minister rushed the decision through to avoid any public debate. "Open cast mining on high-value conservation land is not something the public of New Zealand support, and the Government knows that,” says West Coast Environment Network spokesperson Lynley Hargreaves. Dr Smith says he believes the way forward is to "come to a common agreement on the remaining areas of the plateau that should be set aside permanently for conservation and mining", rather than having "long protracted legal proceedings". He says Bathurst will pay a $22 million compensation package to fund conservation projects in the area - the largest ever negotiated by DOC for a mine or other commercial venture. 3 News Read more: [|http://www.3news.co.nz/Minister-gives-Denniston-Plateau-mine-the-go-ahead/tabid/1160/articleID/298866/Default.aspx#ixzz2UXTx8kpJ]