Mining development a '1 in 1000' chance

Environmentalists and fishermen are concerned about a possible seafloor mining development off the coast of Golden Bay despite a 'one in a thousand" chance of development.

Perth-based Bonaparte Diamond Mines NL has applied to Crown Minerals for a permit to prospect for gold and minerals in almost 3400sq km of seafloor off Golden Bay and Farewell Spit, the Christchurch Press reported.

The permit application included the seabed from the high-water mark to about 15km offshore.

Crown Minerals senior geologist Campbell McKenzie said the company's prospecting permit application was still being assessed.

Prospecting, which was undertaken before exploration and mining, was generally low-impact and involved limited field studies, he said.

Mr McKenzie said prospecting was a high-risk business, which had about a one-in-1000 chance of mine development.

Bonaparte had no expectations of what may be found, but said they believe minerals may have been deposited in the area.

Opponents, including environmentalists and scallop fishermen, said seabed mining provided few jobs for locals and damaged the environment.

Kiwis Against Seabed Mining spokesman Simon Thomson said material rejected from mine processing smothered seafloor aquatic life.

"I understand that within three years you get a return of the original biomass, but not the same species," he said.

"It may take 30 years for a seafloor to recover from the pass of a mining vessel."

Nelson Inshore Fishermen's Association president Grant Orr said he could see no reason for locals to support the proposal.

"I don't see any benefits coming back to the community as a whole, except some royalty money for the Government."

- NZPA