The notion that the Fast-track Approvals Bill somehow paves the way to destroy the environment, with vast swathes of the countryside turned into mines, is way off track, says Straterra chief executive, Josie Vidal.
“Let’s be clear about that in an environment of misrepresentation of what mining means. A protest banner does not the truth make,” Vidal says.
Today Straterra spoke to the Environment Committee at Parliament on its written submission on the bill.
“Straterra submits that this bill is not about mining or the environment, it’s about mining and the environment,” Vidal says.
“It is frustrating that some submitters and commentators are trying to make a case that mining projects do not deserve to be on the fast-track. There are no grounds whatsoever to discriminate mining from other development projects. In fact, some of those other projects are heavily reliant on mined minerals.
“All projects should be included on their merits and the bill allows for this.
“In a country sadly lacking in productivity, mining is one of the most productive sectors, which translates into high wages which are spent in local communities.
“It is nonsense to talk about all the money leaving the country. What does cause investment and people to leave the country is when there are no jobs, poor policy settings, and a weak economy.
At least some of those submitting against the Bill would have been at weekend protests.
They wouldn’t see the irony in their videos of the protests being recorded on mobile phones that depend on minerals that are mined.
They wouldn’t have seen the irony in the need for minerals, including fossil fuels, for at least some part of the transport – cars, buses, bikes – that enabled them to get to and from the protest.
Nor would they have seen the hypocrisy in benefitting from minerals mined elsewhere while protesting against the possibility of mining here where there will be far better worker and environmental protections.
New Zealand productivity and the quality of life that depends on it, have been held back for too long by the time consuming and expensive hurdles new developments face.
Fast tracking applications won’t allow environmental protections to be side-stepped but they will allow work to be done, jobs to be created and much-needed export income to be earned far sooner and less expensively than would otherwise be the case.
Ele Ludemann is a North Otago farmer and journalist, who blogs HERE - where this article was sourced.
1 comment:
Those against fast-tracking are the handbrake on NZ. Whatever happened to the No8 wire mentality? Sure we didn’t always get it right, but quarrying is a good example of how the land can, and is being revegetated. And the world hasn’t ended. There are many in NZ who solely live to oppose progress.
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