“Solid Energy has an appalling track record and its proposed mine in Happy Valley on the West Coast will be a disaster, killing kiwi and many rare Powelliphanta “patrickensis” giant snails, as well as causing climate chaos,” said Save Happy Valley spokesperson, Graham Jury.

“Solid Energy has tried bully tactics against those who oppose its plans, but we will not be intimidated. The Happy Valley mine will cost threatened native species prime habitat so we plan to cost Solid Energy the only thing they care about; profit,” stated Dan Rae who locked onto the train tracks today.

Solid Energy’s mine would release over 13 million tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is equivalent to four times Christchurch’s yearly greenhouse gas emissions.

“The Government is hopelessly compromised and hypocritical in its stated commitment to stop climate change when it stands to make huge profits from Solid Energy's plans for massively increasing coal production,” said Graham Jury.

The Save Happy Valley coalition is committed to using direct action to oppose the mine and has already had two camps out at the mine site, a tree sit and a lock on at the Solid Energy head offices.

ENDS

Media Spokesperson
Graham Jury: 027 307 0448



NOTES FOR MEDIA

Solid Energy’s bully tactics:
1. Solid Energy pressured Landcare Research (an ‘independent’ Crown Research Institute) into making sure its scientists did not give testimony against the Happy Valley mine, according to information obtained under the Official Information Act by the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society. www.forestandbird.org.nz ‘Solid Energy pressure leads to instruction to mislead court and causes witness to withdraw’, 8 July 2005.
2. Solid Energy is suing West Coast regional councillor Peter Ewen after he exposed how the company’s dangerous malpractice had caused avalanches, careless mine fires and destruction of its employee’s private property. Peter Ewen, ‘Doherty Ck Escarpment, A Predictable Failure’.
3. In February 2005 Solid Energy CEO, Don Elder promised Buller Conservation Group (BCG) and Ngakawau Riverwatch that the SOE would not mine on a skyline ridge (Mt Augustus to Rockies (above Granity) that is a prominent landscape feature in coastal Buller, during the next three months. Less than a month later the promise was broken. BCG and Forest and Bird members discovered fresh mining on the ridgeline on 21 March.

Solid Energy’s poor environmental record:
1. Solid Energy’s Strongman mine near Greymouth has a history of severe environmental damage. In late 2002 there were giant landslips at Ten Mile Creek caused by poor mining practices. There have been uncontrolled surface fires and ground instability and vegetation damage in the Nine Mile Valley from underground mining at Strongman in the mid 1990s.
2. The SOE’s Stockton mine is responsible for gross pollution of the Ngakawau River to the extent that white-baiters caught almost nothing last season and locals are reluctant to swim in its contaminated waters.

Save Happy Valley Campaign:
1. The Save Happy Valley Christchurch is part of a wider Campaign that aims to stop the Happy Valley mine, and opposes all coal mining. We want proper protection for our rare native biodiversity and real progress on clean and renewable energy sources to stop dangerous global climate change. More information at: www.savehappyvalley.org.nz