Solid Energy admits goof over mining area

Solid Energy admits it broke a promise not to mine a sensitive ridgeline at Stockton and has launched an internal investigation.

Chief executive Don Elder today apologised to stakeholders and said mis-communication appeared to be the cause.

Buller Conservation Group (BCG) released details of the incident today, claiming the state-owned enterprise initially denied mining the Mount Augustus ridge but after being presented with photographic evidence, agreed it had taken place.

Minutes from a February 10 consultative meeting quote Dr Elder promising the area would not be mined in coming months, and before information was released to the public.

Members of the conservation group discovered fresh mining in that area only six weeks later, on March 21.

"Less than a month after Don Elder made his promise, Solid Energy has broken it," BCG spokesman Pete Lusk said.

The ridgeline runs from Mount Augustus to the Rockies, above Granity, and can be seen from Westport and the seal colony at Cape Foulwind.

Mr Lusk said it is a dramatic landscape feature and he wanted the miner to stop "demolishing" it.

Dr Elder said Solid Energy gave commitments in late 2003, late last year and again this year not to mine the ridge until it had completed work and consulted further with stakeholders.

"It has been determined that we have mined at a line near Mt Augustus.

"Therefore I made a full and complete apology to the stakeholders at the Stockton conservation meeting last week."

An internal investigation had also been launched and would be openly reported back to stakeholders.

Although the investigation was nowhere near complete, he said there appeared to be a misunderstanding between what he and chief operating officer Barry Bragg were saying, and what staff understood. It seemed internal mis-communication was at fault, he said.

"At this stage there is no implication it was either accidental or deliberate mining in breach of our commitment."

Dr Elder said he accepted "absolutely" stakeholders felt let down.

- NZPA