Hide proposing open cast mining

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Sun, 13 Mar 2011 6:32p.m.

Rodney Hide

Rodney Hide

By Patrick Gower

Lots of people are against mining, but not Rodney Hide.

“What is so wrong with a few open cast mines,” he says.

National was given plenty of reasons - and lost its nerve.

So Mr Hide wants to rip open Conservation land, starting with Pike River, where the bodies of 29 miners still lie.

“Pike River has $10b of coal under it, it can be accessed through open cast mining, we should open cast mine Pike River,” he says.

Mr Hide says trying to limit the environmental damage with underground mining didn't work.

Open cast mines might scar the landscape, but Mr Hide says they are "dramatic and grand", and could be tourist attractions.

He'd be the first through the gates.

Mr Hide and ACT are in need of a few distractions, his speech to the party faithful obviously glossed over its problems.

The call for mining is a blatant attempt to win back the attention of right wing voters, but ACT is still largely discredited and will only survive because John Key is again set to give Mr Hide a free run in Epsom.

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Comments

12 May 2011 04:31a.m.

Luke wrote:

The Pike River mining tragedy was no accident. They have been planning to open cast mine in this region for the past 3 years. Enough is enough its time to stand up for our environment, for our people and put these politicians in their place.

20 Mar 2011 05:18p.m.

James J.Read wrote:

Let's get facts straight, Rodney Hide supports mining. He is on record at a public meeting of pointing out that open cast mining is safer than underground.Critics often ignore the fact that he was a lecturer in enviromental science at Lincoln University, before entering politics. On the issue of mining, he has better academic qualifications than any Green M.P, none of whom have lectured in this field.

20 Mar 2011 05:17p.m.

James J.Read wrote:

Let's get facts straight, Rodney Hide supports mining. He is on record at a public meeting of pointing out that open cast mining is safer than underground.Critics often ignore the fact that he was a lecturer in enviromental science at Lincoln University, before entering politics. On the issue of mining, he has better academic qualifications than any Green M.P, none of whom have lectured in this field.

18 Mar 2011 01:58p.m.

Jim wrote:

Davo
Please, you cannot make statements like "holds little water with the majority of the country" without proof. I could say exactly the opposite and it would be meaningless as well. I also suggest that if Pike River already had an open mine it would not affect tourism as it is not on the list of suggested tourist hot spots like say "Rotorua / Queenstown" or did you not see the lack of tourist type Motels etc... at Pike River. Please do not exaggerate like the Greenies do!!!

17 Mar 2011 05:54p.m.

Davo wrote:

@Dan, I think you'll find Rodney's grandiose idea holds little water with the majority of the country for a number of reasons; 1) Our environment is our most valuable asset in terms of both our country's image and economy; 2)Few people are willing to travel half-way across the world to look at some man-made hole in the ground; and 3) Rodney has zilch credibility. I love the narcissistic delusions of grandeur that plagues each member of the ACT party, it makes for surprisingly great entertainment. Watching them get cut down is even better.

16 Mar 2011 09:17p.m.

Dan wrote:

I like your thinking Jim, i totally agree with you, good to see at least one person commenting with their head screwed on!

16 Mar 2011 09:13p.m.

Dan wrote:

Sounds like a fantastic idea to me, you have my vote Rodney. Our economy is crippled enough as it is without tree hugging hippies blocking the path to progress and profit. If there is $10 billion of coal to be mined I say mine it! This Country needs to get back on its feet economically and if that means damaging a tiny portion of our vast natural resources then why not? What is the point of having resources if we don’t use them to benefit the country? Take a look at a satellite image of the country and see the vast quantity of forest we have, what is the harm of a couple of open cast mines? Its not going to destroy the country, we have the land for it!

16 Mar 2011 02:49p.m.

Grant wrote:

Jim, I have seen alot of new technologies being talked about in recent years... using waste plant material to make fuel etc.. yes at the moment it isnt all that economically viable but with investments in research etc, we might actually be able to make these technologies far more viable and cost efficient.

I personally think apples ipads etc are a waste of time, things like mobile phones etc are corrupting the human language and causing young people to speak like idiots and they are becoming extremely lazy.

I hate this new generations complete lack of interpersonal skills and utter lack of empathy for anything but themselves as well.

Young adults today expect everything handed to them on a silver platter, but you cant expect much else when National and Labour have been pushing a full employment policy that leaves children in early childhood care without their parents to be role models and provide discipline.. and no discipline does not mean smacking.

16 Mar 2011 11:27a.m.

Mark wrote:

Open cast mines as tourist attractions! What planet is this guy on?

15 Mar 2011 01:40p.m.

Chargone wrote:

someone put this idiot out of our misery already. how does the idiocy that is ACT keep getting seats?