Don Elder

"Solid Energy welcomes the Government's discussion paper, released today, which proposes measures to facilitate the environmentally responsible development of New Zealand's extensive mineral estate," Solid Energy's chief executive officer, Dr Don Elder said today.

"New Zealand's natural resources are worth thousands of billions of dollars. These resources are in many locations. Some are under farms in Southland; some are in marginal land of little other value. Some are under our seabed in our vast exclusive economic zone. Some are under areas of Crown land and some are also in Schedule 4 land including potentially under national parks.

"This is the opportunity for New Zealanders to understand the potential value of our mineral resources and to have a sensible and balanced national discussion about their use and that includes the constraints around their use. The decisions that we make today will impact on our country for decades, if not hundreds, of years and could bring significant benefits for generations to come.

"Solid Energy, which is focusing on the potential of our lignite resources in Southland, understands that the proper development of our mineral resources requires enormous commitment and major responsibilities to a whole range of stakeholders and that it cannot be done at the expense of our unique natural environment which we all value. "For that reason, we particularly support the proposal for a Conservation Fund which could draw on royalty revenue from mining operations on Crown land and resource special conservation projects to improve New Zealand's overall natural environment.

"We know that New Zealanders value our unique natural environment extremely highly. We also know that New Zealanders want good jobs and a high standard of living. Smart well-managed use of our natural resources, combined with a conservation fund to create long-term environmental gain will allow us to have both."