Work will start this year on the controversial Cypress coal mine near Westport after an Environment Court go-ahead that has angered conservationists.

Green groups say the mine will create a 250ha "scar" in "distinctive landscapes" and endanger great spotted kiwi and giant snails.

Buller Mayor Martin Sawyers and Solid Energy yesterday welcomed the decision as another boost for the region.

Cypress, which is about 20km north of Westport in the Upper Waimangaroa Valley, has prompted several protests from conservationists in the past year.

The court yesterday ruled on appeals from the Buller Conservation Group, Forest and Bird and Te Runanga O Ngati Waewae against the mine.

Solid Energy plans to mine five million tonnes of coal at Cypress over about 10 years in two open-cast pits covering 105ha.

A further 155ha will be used for overburden disposal, roads, water- treatment facilities and associated infrastructure.

Solid Energy stood by its commitment to operate the mine carefully, chief executive Don Elder said.

"We stand by our commitment to develop and operate this new mine using environmental best practice, and in particular to minimise the impacts of mining on the indigenous flora and fauna, particularly the great spotted kiwi and the land snail Powelliphanta patrickensis," he said.

The court had acknowledged the state-owned enterprise's (SOE) plans to create a predator-proof reserve of 17ha as part of the development, Elder said.

"The court has also accepted our proposal for the direct transfer of 12ha of red-tussock land and its use in rehabilitation of the site at the end of mining, saying that this offer `convinces us that the values on the rehabilitated site will in due course not be significantly devalued'," he said.

Elder said Solid Energy expected to start developing the mine this year and for mining to start late next year.

Forest and Bird said the court's decision was "a dismal one for conservation".

"The court has relied heavily on Solid Energy's promises to be a good environmental manager, but we don't share the court's confidence in Solid Energy," spokeswoman Eugenie Sage said.

Implementing the consent conditions relied on comprehensive monitoring and enforcement by the West Coast Regional Council and the Buller District Council. Given their scant resources and limited staff, this was unlikely, she said.

"The mine will destroy habitat used by 13 threatened species, including great spotted kiwi and the endemic land snail Powelliphanta patrickensis," Sage said.

"It will create a 250ha scar in the distinctive landscape of the Upper Waimangaroa Valley, with its mosaic of rock pavements, wetlands and stunted vegetation."

Buller Conservation Group spokesman Peter Lusk said those against the mine could appeal against the decision, but this would be expensive. He thought more protests and campaigning against the mine was a better option.

"We are very disappointed," he said. "We also feel that we have been betrayed by the Conservation Department for basically backing the mine by helping Solid Energy to shift the kiwi and snails."

Sawyers said the decision, following news that Oceania Gold's Reefton mine could have a longer than expected lifespan, was great for the district.

"The decision helps to cement the future of the coalmining industry here," he said.

"The council does have a regulatory role (to enforce mine consents), which we take very seriously. We do like our environment on the West Coast, and one of our jobs is to make sure it is not damaged," Sawyers said.

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