A new coal mine in Waikato has been granted resource consent.
A joint commitee of the Waikato District and Regional Councils has approved the issuing of consents for an open cast coal mine at Mangatangi.
The consents have been won by Glencoal Energy Limited, a subsidiary of dairy cooperative Fonterra, subject to environmental and health conditions.
The councils say several submitters were concerned about the potential for respiratory problems due to dust and the effect the mine could have on waterways downstream.
The commissioners say the concerns were over-stated and conditions can be put in place to mitigate dust effects.
Glencoal's planned mine operation would be more than 76 hectares and involve eight years of coal extraction. The company will mine the coal at three dairy factories after supplies run out from another mine.
But an opponent the mine says it is unnecessary and the regional council has failed to properly consider the alternatives.
Coal Action Network spokesperson Jeanette Fitzsimons says the factories could be fuelled by wood waste.
She says the mine will be yet another contributor to climate change and will negatively affect the lives of locals, who are very concerned about the mine.
Ms Fitzsimons says she doesn't know yet whether an appeal will be lodged with the Environment Court.
