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    • Industry

    The minerals industry on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand is one of the driving industries of the economy on the West Coast. Initiatives that enhance the industry will have major positive follow-on effects for the greater West Coast community in the Buller, Grey and Westland districts.

    Importance to the West Coast economy
     Mining has been identified in the West Coast Economic Development Strategic Plan as a driver industry on the West Coast growing strongly and expected to be between 50% and 100% larger by 2010.

    Mining is the second highest paying industry in New Zealand, and the West Coast is the second largest mining region in New Zealand after Waikato.

    Currently worth in excess of $200m to the West Coast economy, the West Coast is poised to become the largest mineral producing region in New Zealand. This equates to approx. $7000 per person.

    Industry plans point to a strong increase in output and employment over the next five years. Solid Energy intends to double West Coast coal production by 2005, Roa is to expand while Oceana Gold Ltd are developing their hard rock gold mine near Reefton.

    Mining is the second highest paying industry in New Zealand, and the West Coast is the second largest mining region in New Zealand

    These developments have the potential to increase direct employment in the region’s mining sector by approximately 280 employees, and possibly 380 by 2010. This would double the industry’s present workforce in the region.
    Development of the West Coast Industry
     There are many challenges to overcome. These include access to the resource through the DOC estate, agreement of the level and nature of bonding, upgrading of road, rail and port systems to cater for the growth and the limitations of the Grey and Westland districts energy supply and transmission systems, which are currently unable to cater for any further increases in demand.

    This growth, in what is now a highly skilled industry, presents the region with the opportunity of a significant number of jobs for local people and the expansion of the region’s population through new employees moving to the Coast. Sound linkages need to be established between education providers and the industry to ensure both the employment opportunities in the industry and qualification requirements are promoted.

    To attract people to these jobs the industry needs to be presented as highly desirable to work in. The important role of mining to the other industries and the New Zealand economy also needs to be promoted. In addition a wide range of settlement and social issues, for example housing, will need to be addressed.

    Critical to the future development of the minerals industry is the need to ensure the best practices in environmental management and rehabilitation.

    Mining presents the opportunity to expand other industries such as tourism and enable sustained economic activity in West Coast towns during and following the conclusion of mining activity.

     

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