Company to appeal iron sands mining decision

Iron sand sampling off the coast of Patea for Trans-Tasman Resources. Photo / File

A company seeking to mine iron sands off the West Coast will appeal a decision to decline its marine consent application for the project.

A decision making committee appointed by the Environmental Protection Agency last month rejected TTR's application, citing a lack of certainty around negative environmental impacts.

The company had applied for a consent to mine 66sq/km located between 22 and 36km offshore in the South Taranaki Bight, in what would be one of the first projects of its kind in New Zealand.

Up to 50 million tonnes of sand per year would be processed on ships to remove iron ore with about 45 million tonnes of waste sand returned to the seabed.

"We have now studied the decision in detail with the assistance of our advisors and experts, and are confident that there are strong grounds for a successful appeal," TTR chief executive Tim Crossley said last night.

"Because this will now be dealt with through a court process, TTR will not be commenting further and we are not yet in a position to disclose the basis of our appeal as these will be sent to the EPA and submitters in the first instance before being released by the EPA."

Chairman of the anti-mining group Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, Phil McCabe, said he "60 or 70 percent expected" the company to appeal, and confirmed his group would keep fighting the project.

"KASM will be there until the end."

Mr McCabe earlier said he did not see anything for TTR to gain from an appeal.

"They've been given a pretty comprehensive decision already."