https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/seabed-mining...

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/seabed-mining-whanganui-mp-carl-bates-says-he-relays-constituent-concerns-about-south-taranaki-project/2W6HTQVZQBBETGAR5MW4BNLSYQ/


"Australian mining company Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR) wants to extract up to 50 million tonnes of seabed material a year in the South Taranaki Bight, with the project included in the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill.Bates (National) said the fast-track legislation would be signed into law but the mining project — Taranaki VTM — still had to apply to the Environmental Protection Agency next year.“Then, an expert panel will meet and consider that application,” he said. “Only if environmental issues are addressed or appropriately mitigated can that panel grant the consent.”The TTR project was one of 149 announced to be fast-tracked by Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop in October. Bates would not say whether he supported or opposed the project but said he was making sure all concerns and feedback was shared with his colleagues in Wellington."

The Chronicle asked Bates if he would consider crossing the floor on the issue but he said it was “not a relevant question” because the Fast-track Bill had already passed.“More broadly, I am very supportive of the Government’s direction and the work we are doing to get this country back on track, to grow the economy and to make it more productive.”