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A day after protesters stalled its business by blocking a railway line, mining company Solid Energy has hit back with a victory in court.
In the latest episode in a long-running feud, the state-owned company yesterday received a High Court decision that confirmed its right to operate an opencast coal mine at Stockton, on the West Coast.
The mine has been held up by the requirement on the company to relocate endangered native land snails from their habitat near the mine site.
The Save Happy Valley Coalition protest group has vigorously opposed the shifting of the powelliphanta augustus snails, fearing it would lead to their extinction, and has fought the proposed mine at every step in court.
"[The] decision confirms what we have always maintained. We act within the law and we take our environmental responsibilities seriously," said Solid Energy chief executive Don Elder.
"We will spend almost $10 million protecting this snail population, obtaining the necessary permits and authorities to relocate them, and defending these actions against legal challenges by anti-mining activists which are totally without merit."
On Sunday, two protesters attached themselves to the rail line used to carry coal from the West Coast to Lyttelton. They will face charges in court this week.
Coalition spokeswoman Frances Mountier said the group would seek advice on whether there was any merit in further court action.
More than 5600 snails have been collected from the Stockton ridgeline area and almost 2000 of these have been released back into the wild.
