Bathurst Stockton Coal Mine Extension Hits Fast-Track Roadblock
The small town of Westport on New Zealand's West Coast is facing an economic crisis if the Stockton coal mine, owned by Bathurst Resources, closes. The mine employs over 400 people and contributes more than $100 million annually to the local economy.
The timing couldn't be worse for Westport, which has already absorbed 132 job losses in a single year due to the closure of the Westland Mineral Sands and Talley's processing factory.
Bathurst Resources has applied for a fast-track consent to extend the mine's operations, but this is not without controversy. The environmental group Forest and Bird has expressed concerns about the scale and complexity of the project, while geologist John Taylor defends the unique properties of West Coast coal that command a premium price.
The clock is ticking, as Bathurst's current mining licenses expire at the end of March 2027. Without new consents by then, operations will stop. The company concedes that the standard RMA route offers no guarantee of consent or getting it in time.