64595 (2024). Steve Abel to the Minister for the Environment

64595 (2024). Steve Abel to the Minister for the Environment: Who, if anyone, pays for the annual countrywide cost, if any, of acid mine drainage (AMD), in New Zealand, listed by region?

Hon Penny Simmonds: I am advised that acid mine drainage (AMD) by itself does not have a direct monetary cost. However without treatment, AMD is likely to cause environmental impacts. The treatment of any AMD caused by mining activities would be a condition of the relevant resource consents, and so would be the responsibility of the organisation that holds those consents. Therefore, I do not have the information requested by the Member. However, I have been informed of two specific examples where the Crown has contributed to the treatment of AMD: - Stockton mine on the West Coast. The Crown’s share of AMD management costs at the Stockton mine for the year ended 30 June 2024 was $3.672 million. -Tui Mine, Te Aroha. Actions taken to address AMD from the mine workings and tailings dam were completed in 2013. The Crown contributed $19.3 million to the $20.3 million project cost.