Seabed Mining South Taranaki Bight 2013-14
DECISION: APPROVED
2014 Update
On 8 July 2014 Trans-Tasman Resources Limited (TTR) lodged an appeal with the High Court against the Environmental Protection Authority decision to refuse their marine consent application.
TTR applied to mine iron sand from the South Taranaki Bight for the next 20 years. No hearing date has been advised. Timings for the appeal will be confirmed by the High Court in Wellington in due course.
Introduction
Trans-Tasman Resources Limited (TTR) has lodged an application with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed for iron sand off the coast of Patea, South Taranaki. The marine consent would allow TTR to mine 65 square kilometres of seabed for 20 years, and extract up to 50 million tonnes of the seabed each year in depths ranging from 19 to 42 metres.
TTR released their application on 21 November 2013 with submissions due by 19 December 2013.
On 17 June 2014, the EPA made a decision refusing the TTR marine consent application.
Submission
The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council (NZSFC) submitted against this application on 19 December 2013. The application has since been re-notified that new information has been made available, and subsequent submissions will be accepted until 28 January 2014. The NZSFC developed a supplementary submission in 2014.
Relevant information
2014
Decision
Decision. Marine consent. EPA. 17 June 2014.
Decision by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) refusing the marine consent application by Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd to excavate iron sand. 17 June 2014.
Submissions
Submission supplementary. Seabed mining Taranaki. NZSFC. 28 Jan 2014
Supplementary submission on the Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd marine consent application to mine the seabed in the South Taranaki Bight. Submission reiterates the need for the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to decline the application to mine iron sand. Supplementary submission by the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council. 28 January 2014.
NPSUC Submission. Seabed mining South Taranaki Bight. 27 Jan 2014.
The New Plymouth Sportfishing & Underwater Club oppose the marine resource application made to the Environmental Protection Authority by Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd to mine iron sand in the South Taranaki Bight. There are already many manmade restrictions on recreational use of the area, and there are concerns that any industrial disturbance of the natural environment will be severely disturbing. 27 January 2014.
2013
Submissions
Submission. Seabed mining South Taranaki. NZSFC. 19 Dec 2013
Submission opposing the Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd marine consent application to mine iron sand in the South Taranaki Bight. Submission urges the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) decline the application by TTR on the basis that there are unknown consequences of releasing sediments onto the continental shelf. Submission by the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council. 19 December 2013.
Supporting documents
Report. Recreation and Tourism Assessment of Effects. October 2013
This report commissioned by Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd assesses the effects of seabed mining on recreation and tourism in the South Taranaki Bight to be mostly minor to moderate. The NZSFC do not agree with this assessment.