Judicial review date set for coal company case

A court date has been set for a judicial review of the Southland District Council’s decision to grant a coal company exploratory access to its forestry block. A two-day hearing in the High Court at Invercargill is expected to begin on July 18, 2022. Forest & Bird claims the council made the decision unlawfully because it failed to properly consider the implications of climate change, and the impact climate change will have on the district, including for future generations. The council is the first respondent. New Brighton Collieries is the second respondent. New Brighton Collieries was granted exploratory access to the council’s forestry block earlier this year, which is next to the Takitimu coal mine. Wellington-based and Australian Securities Exchange listed Bathurst Resources Ltd is the owner of New Brighton Collieries.