Bathurst Resources, which wants to mine 20 million tonnes of coal from the Denniston Plateau, is not the kind of company New Zealand should be courting: its record clearly shows how much of a bad actor it is, Coal Action Network Aotearoa said today.  

The group applauded the efforts of the 70-strong encampment that’s been on the Plateau since Friday, protesting Bathurst’s plans to trash the plateau and ultimately consign the emissions from the 20 million tonnes of coal to the atmosphere.

Photo: Joseph Johnson

“Bathurst Resources cannot be trusted: it’s in a legal battle with its mining partner Talley’s and it’s still in an ongoing mediation with Environment Canterbury about its terrible behaviour at Canterbury Coal mine where it breached numerous consents, and was forced to close the mine,” warned CANA organising group member Cindy Baxter.

“Everywhere you look, this company has gotten itself in trouble, and there’s absolutely no reason to believe it will act any differently on the Denniston Plateau. But ultimately, Bathurst is on a hiding to nothing: the world is moving away from dirty coal,” she said. 

Bathurst has a number of projects planned around the country, but none of them should go ahead, she said. 

CANA is among groups that are organising a protest outside Bathurst’s offices at 1 Willeston St, Wellington in support of the Denniston 70’s efforts, on Tuesday 22 April (12.30pm).