11 Jun 2015

Coromandel mine protesters drop case

5:44 pm on 11 June 2015

Legal action over consents granted to a Coromandel gold miner has ended, with the anti-mining group saying it would be too hard to win.

Karangahake Mountain

Karangahake Mountain Photo: SUPPLIED / John Fitzgerald

Protect Karangahake had been arguing the Hauraki District Council should not have granted consent to New Tailsman to mine for gold.

The group sought a judicial review of that decision, but withdrew the action yesterday.

It said the bar was too high, as the District Plan had a bias in favour of mining, and because the review couldn't take into account whether the effects of the mining were seriously considered when the council issued consents.

Protect Karangakahe said it was now looking at different ways to protect the region from mining.

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