Council raps Solid Energy

The West Coast Regional Council has asked Solid Energy to report on its mining practices because of slips causing environmental concerns.

At a meeting of the council's resource management committee, councillors debated whether to ask the Ministry of Energy to intervene but a decision was deferred to February.

Last week slips occurred at the Strongman opencast coal mine, which Solid Energy says were caused by a non-standard blast.

Councillor Peter Ewen believed it was a significant error. "It was a premeditated, deliberate decision to not adhere to stated protocol and assurances given to us ... Best practice was promised, but this is worst practice."

A section of Doherty Creek previously not adversely affected by mining was now "stuffed".

Council chief executive David Horn said Solid Energy had until Christmas to report what it proposed to do about the incident.

- NZPA