Bathurst back to High Court on climate change appeal

Wednesday 18th July 2012

Bathurst Resources, the West Coast coking coal miner, has failed in its bid to speed up the appeal started by environmental groups arguing climate change impacts should be considered in the granting of resource consents for the Escarpment mine on the Denniston Plateau.

Bathurst had hoped to overleap the High Court and go straight to the Court of Appeal on the issue, which is being mounted by the New Zealand Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society and a West Coast environmental activists' network.

The pair are also pursuing separate appeals, to be heard in late October, against resource consents granted for the Escarpment mine in August last year.

The High Court appeal on the climate change issue will be heard on July 30. While disappointed with the decision, Bathurst welcomed the "expeditious" timing of the High Court hearing.

Bathurst shares have lost two-thirds of their value in the past 12 months, last trading at 42 cents on the NZX. Investors in the Western Australian-based, dual-listed company have expressed frustration at the length of time it is taking to obtain consents to expand its New Zealand operations.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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