Minerals West Coast
Newsletter #14
December 2008

In this edition:
  • Resource Management Act
  • Crown Minerals Act
  • Conservation Act
  • Updates
    • Mineral Resource Assessment
    • Permitting
    • Marine Protection Forum
    • West Coast Industry Education Partnership
  • Moving On

Minerals West Coast
P O Box 77
100b Mackay St
Greymouth 7840
New Zealand

Project Co-ordinator
Keith Brodie
Phone +64 3 768 5600
Fax +64 3 768 5105
Mobile: 0275 996 105
Email:
keith.brodie@mineralswestcoast.co.nz

 It’s that time of the year again, when we take stock of the past twelve months and look to what the New Year may bring. What have we done? How did we do? Where are we going? A change of government and a challenging economic national and international environment add interest to the latter question. In my view we must stick to established business principles and practices, but remain responsive to change when and as required. Some of the challenges are of our own making as a nation, some are beyond our control. Irrespective we must remain nimble enough to respond to the evolving global environment and ensure the Coast gets a fair return as a producer of considerable wealth.

With this in mind, some thoughts on possible future directions on the eve of 2009.
.

The Resource Management Act
The burgeoning bureaucracy, absence of firm timeframes and lack of certainty for all participants is counterproductive. Put simply, this Act isn’t doing what it was designed to do within a timeframe that supports economic imperatives. We should be able to streamline the Act and its processes without eroding the outcomes and environmental controls it provides.

Crown Minerals Act
The allocation and responsible use of New Zealand’s natural resources is fundamental to maintaining social and commercial structures. This Act and management programmes should be reviewed to take into account the significant number and content of the submissions made by industry over recent years.

Conservation Act
Few in our sector would argue for the erosion of conservation and environmental values and controls, but most of industry would like to see more certainty in respect of processing timeframes and access to the conservation estate so as to better understand our resource endowment and potential as companion attributes to conservation.

Read more


Updates
Mineral Resource Assessment
The project still remains with Development West Coast and is on hold due to governance issues and DWC lack of grant funds.

Permitting
Crown Minerals has responded to the letter challenging the blanket pegging of ground by FMG Pacific on the West Coast.

Marine Protection Forum
MWC convened and hosted a meeting on 30 October for industry to receive pre notification of the areas likely to be recommended by the Marine Protection Forum to the Minister of Conservation for protection.

West Coast Industry Education Partnership (WCIEP)
Following discussion with DWC, MWC agreed to them including the WCIEP project proposal in an application they were making to NZ Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) for facilitated funds.

Read more


Moving On
I have decided to leave Minerals West Coast and provide the trustees with the opportunity to move this fledgling organisation with the times. It has been an interesting three years living in an area I previously visited often, but never imagined living and working in. What seemed like a reasonably straight forward brief has really thrown up intriguing permutations and rewards.

There remains, as I said on day one, much to do – it is very much up to the sector and its captains to recognise and engender an industry that works together, moves past the intuitive reflex to compete and really provide a fair return to the region. This needs resources, and I see generating these as the key challenge for the next period.

Thanks to those who recognised the value in having a collective voice and have supported the organisation. I am now connected to the Coast, but some 17 years short of completing the assimilation and becoming a local ….

I won’t be ‘leaving’, just visiting less often. These visits will re-commence from Mid January.


In Closing
Plenty to think about over the ‘holiday’ season, and certainly a diverse range of challenges ahead in the New Year.

Compliments of the season to you all. Special thanks to all those who have sent Xmas cards – much appreciated . If you are able to take some time off, I trust you will come back recharged and revitalised, there will certainly be plenty to do in 2009.



Keith Brodie
Project Coordinator


Thought for the Centuries.
It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change - Charles Darwin (1808-1882)

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