Folks,I noticed this on the Westport News web site. Looks like...

Folks,

I noticed this on the Westport News web site. Looks like BTU has expansive plans

http://westportnews.co.nz/friday.pdf

Australian coal miner, Bathurst Resources, is forging ahead with acquiring more mining permits for the Buller while seeking consent to mine on 200ha of public conservation land on the Denniston Plateau.

Bathurst subsidiary, Buller Coal Limited (BCL), last month applied for an exploration permit for 7429ha around the Mokihinui River. The Mokihinui is also where Meridian Energy plans to build a hydro power station, pending an Environment Court appeal against it.

Bathurst managing director Hamish Bohannan said applying for a permit didn't guarantee there was any coal at the Mokihinui site.

'Obviously we wont be mining the river.'

Meridian project development manager Chris Evans said Meridians dam and proposed inundation area would sit to the east of the primary section of BCLs exploration permit.

The upstream extent of the dam inundation area sat within the tail of the exploration permit area, said Mr Evans.
He did not respond when asked if BCLs permit application was of any concern to Meridian. Meanwhile, the Denniston Escarpment coalmine consent hearing has fi nally been formally closed more than two months after starting.

Mr Bohannan said the hearing commissioners wrapped up the consent hearing on Monday and a decision would be announced on August 26. If consent is granted by the Buller District and West Coast regional councils, BCL will need an access arrangement and concessions from the Department of Conservation. Negotiations between the two have been ongoing.