Mangatawhiri: Next Coal Hole

19 Dec

Fonterra’s subsidiary Glencoal plans to open a new coal mine on Auckland’s doorstep, at Mangatawhiri. They are calling the mine Mangatangi Mine (Mangatangi is the area neighbouring Mangatawhiri but not the actual location of the site).

The coal is intended to be used in boilers at three Fonterra plants for milk powder production. However, the extra energy cost of using sustainably-sourced local woodchips would increase the bulk price of powder by only a few cents per kilo.

Resource consent hearings were held in August-September 2013.

The local community is strongly opposed to this mine, citing concerns about coal dust, the health of their children, the integrity of their water and a desire to live sustainably.

Ironically, the extraction of coal is the worst contributor to climate change, which is already bringing more droughts and extreme weather – hurting the very farmers Fonterra represents.

Site of proposed mine.

Stage plan for the mine’s development.

5 Responses to “Mangatawhiri: Next Coal Hole”

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Motorists entertained by anti-coal protest | auckland coal action - 02/04/2013

    […] or Tauranga were slowed to a crawl for much of the length of SH2. As they passed the site of Fonterra’s proposed new mine at Mangatawhiri they were entertained and informed by a resolute group of ACA […]

  2. Queen’s Birthday coal protest | auckland coal action - 03/06/2013

    […] queue of traffic returning to Auckland was, this afternoon, alerted to the plans for a new coal mine at Mangatawhiri, near […]

  3. Fonterra: Contaminated By Coal | Coal Action Network Aotearoa - 08/08/2013

    […] this month, a resource consent hearing will be held for a new coalmine Fonterra wants to open at Mangatawhiri, near Auckland, to fuel one of its dairy factories. They could use wood – but they choose to […]

  4. Mangatangi Mine hearings kick off on Monday | auckland coal action - 22/08/2013

    […] consent hearings into a proposed new open-cast coal mine kick off on Monday morning with a […]

  5. Newsletter August 2013 | Coal Action Network Aotearoa - 23/08/2013

    […] August 26 will see the first day of resource consent hearing for a new coalmine Fonterra wants to open at Mangatawhiri, near Auckland, to fuel one of its dairy factories. They could use wood – but they choose to use […]

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