LOCAL News :: Animal Rights : Environment : Protest Activity

Occupation of Mt Augustus begins

Author

Asher

Date Created

06 Feb 2007

More details...

Press Release: Save Happy Valley Coalition

Save Happy Valley Coalition members are currently occupying Mt Augustus, halting the mining that is destroying the last remaining habitat of Powelliphanta Augustus. The campaigners are camped inside Solid Energy's blasting exclusion zone, on public Conservation land.

Click on image for a larger version

In nearby Happy Valley, the Coalition's occupation has stopped the development of the Cypress mine for over a year.

"We occupy Happy Valley to protect it from the threat of Solid Energy's digger and dynamite. Mt Augustus faces exactly the same threat; this destructive, polluting, profit driven state owned company is destroying kiwi habitat and eradicating the last home of the critically endangered Powelliphanta "Augustus," as fast as they can," said Frances Mountier, Save Happy Valley Coalition spokesperson. "And so, it is time for people to take non violent direct action."

"We aim to provide respite to the snails and kiwi that are otherwise being blasted by state owned coal miner Solid Energy. Ultimately, we work to protect the last habitat of this species, and so ensure it is not wiped off the face of the earth.

"Solid Energy have tried to greenwash over the effect their operations have on the environment, and have used empty rhetoric to hide the inexcusable fact that they are increasing coal production, despite the great threat that is posed to society and environment alike by climate change.

"We take this action in order to prevent the first state sanctioned species extinction. The Minster of Conservation, DOC and even the Environment Court have failed to save this so-called "absolutely protected" species."

ENDS

Click on image for a larger version

Comment on this article
Title
Author
	Create a new account Enter a username and password which will enable you to edit this article later. You may leave these blank, but you will then not be allowed to edit the post. All fields except last name are required. First Name Last Name Username Password Email
Text Format
Comment
Anti-spam	Enter the following number into the box:
	To add more detailed comments, or to upload files, see the full comment form.

Comments

Re: Occupation of Mt Augustus begins

06 Feb 2007

by Anonymous

woohoo! fucking good on ya e hoa ma!
keep us updated....
;o)

Reply to this comment

Re: Occupation of Mt Augustus begins

07 Feb 2007

by Anonymous

Love your work Valley Crew - Go Hard!
xxx
jo

Reply to this comment

Re: Occupation of Mt Augustus begins

13 Feb 2007

by Anonymous

From www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/blog

8 February 2007
Scrub acrobatics up Augustus

We had heavy packs going up the Augustus track this time, and it took five hours to get out into the open just under the ridge. There are spectacular views from up there – out to sea, north to Kahurangi Point, and above us rocky cliffs. At least, there used to be rocky cliffs. To the south, these have now been blasted into oblivion.

It took a while before we had a visit from security. They tried to tell us something about trespassing. We tried to tell them that they don’t have a concession to do security operations on Doc land, and were therefore acting illegally. Not very fruitful all around! The police popped by later, just for a chat…

I don’t know who decided, when dividing up Mt Augustus, where to put the boundary between Doc and coal mining licence land. The snails, like most indigenous inhabitants, certainly weren’t consulted.

The upshot of it now is that to get most anywhere along the ridge, we have to crash through the scrub instead of walking along nice open ground 10 metres up the hill. It’s all good, it just means getting scratched.

Where we’ve been getting to, mostly, is a couple of gullies just south of camp. Further north the snail removal team is still in operation. Just further south the fence isn’t finished. So we’ve been spending our days sitting directly under the bit of ridgeline they want to blast.

Solid Energy have claimed in the media that we’re not in their blast zone. With holes for blasting being drilled directly above our heads we find that difficult to believe. Worse, if that’s what they believe then they might go ahead and blast there anyway. Our helmets aren’t going to do much to hold back several tonnes of rock.

A handful of security guards have been taking shifts sitting up on the ridgeline watching us sitting under the ridgeline. Or watching us eating dinner back at camp. Or sleeping in our tents at night. Fascinating stuff, I’m sure.

Reply to this comment