Mayor backs coal-power on West Coast

By MONIQUE DEVEREUX

A proposed coal-fuelled power station on the West Coast should be fast-tracked, says the Buller District mayor.

Solid Energy is investigating the feasibility of building a $200 million coal station near Westport to generate 150MW or more of power a year.

Meridian's Project Aqua would have generated about 520MW.

Buller District Mayor Pat O'Dea believes coal is the answer to power shortages, and would bring growth and job security to his region.

But he says a few "economic saboteurs" and extremist conservation groups are stopping progress.

And he does not believe the Kyoto Protocol on emissions or the Resource Management Act should stall coal-powered projects.

"It doesn't make any sense to have projects like Project Aqua when the West Coast has got tonnes of water, tonnes of natural resources for generating coal-fired stations and the Government owns the lot," Mr O'Dea said.