It was a "bit of a surprise" that the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) opposed mining on Schedule 4 conservation land since their membership included mine workers, Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee.However, he said their public announcem
It was a "bit of a surprise" that the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) opposed mining on Schedule 4 conservation land since their membership included mine workers, Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee.
However, he said their public announcement this morning was "predictable".
CTU president Helen Kelly said the mineral value of Schedule 4 land had been exaggerated and it did not outweigh the potential damage to other industries and the environment.
The mining industry was important to New Zealand's economy but the Government also had a role in promoting sustainable industry development, she said.
Also, most mining industry operators were internationally owned so many of the benefits would "immediately flow overseas".
"Any move to alter the status of Schedule 4 areas would be unwelcome and against the wider interests of the country," Ms Kelly said.
Mr Brownlee said while their comments were predictable it was still a surprise that they would oppose mines their members could work in.
"They don't like the Schedule 4 stuff but they support mining in general."
Mr Brownlee said the proposal to open up areas of conservation land to mining was an "emotional issue".
He said he hoped the more than 40,000 people who marched against the proposal in Auckland on Saturday had read what was being proposed.
"Because I haven't heard much comment yet on the 12,000ha that we're planning to put into Schedule 4.
"I think people are just reacting to what they understand the proposal to be. It is in fact a very very moderate and modest proposal to enable further exploration in those areas, it's not a commitment to mining in those areas, although we do want the mining sector in general to grow," Mr Brownlee told reporters.
"I don't want to be disrespecting about the position they're taking. We've said we're going into a consultation process, clearly the march forms part of that public expression."
The consultation period was extended, to May 26, to allow the general public to continue making submissions while the Government consulted with iwi groups, Mr Brownlee said.
He rejected claims it was to give the Government breathing space over the contentious issue.
"We don't need breathing space, we've got a process that's in place, there's no need to rush it so we're going to give it due consideration. I don't think extending the timeline is a bad thing at all."
