An appeal has been lodged against a ruling paving the way for Bathurst Resources to open a new coal mine on the South Island's West Coast.
The Australian-based miner is hoping to create a 150-hectare open cast mine on the Denniston Plateau near Westport.
Forest & Bird has lodged an appeal against an Environment Court ruling in March that said the court was inclined to grant the project consent.
The environmental group cited concerns over the amount of coal to be mined, damage to the environment and compensation offered.
Bathurst Resources managing director Hamish Bohannan says the company is still assessing the implications of the appeal, but it believes the mine will benefit the region and fit in with the need for jobs on the West Coast.
"We believe that there's a good and manageable balance between getting returns to the nation and the West Coast and the environment."
