Bathurst Coal Ltd,  has been fined $10,500 by Environment Canterbury for letting sediment run into waterways, putting at risk the habitat of the region’s most threatened fish – the Canterbury Mudfish. Unauthorised runoff from development at the company’s Canterbury Coal mine at Coalgate was detected on 14 occasions. The opencast mine is 70 kilometres west of Christchurch. The sediment was found in the Tara and Bush Gully streams after heavy rainfall in July, August and September this year. Both streams feed into Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere.

Michaela Rees, Environment Cantebury’s Selwyn Waihora zone manager, said the company’s failure to fully establish sediment controls such as fencing, staged ponds and planting, was a “very serious issue”.

Ray Maw, Waihora Ellesmere Trust chairman said the trust supported any action that could stop degradation of the waterways flowing into the lake.

Proper enforcement and follow-up by authorities such as Environment Canterbury  and the Department of Conservation was vital, Maw said.

“They need to be doing their job. It encourages landowners or business owners to act responsibly.” read the full article here.