Despite the creation of short term jobs, mining adversely affects ecosystems and has a detrimental knock-on effect to the broader West Coast environment, economy and society. The risks associated with the projected mining activities are as follows:

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Disturbance and destruction of marine life on mined beaches

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Destabilisation of fisheries and fishing communities

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Impacts on already scarce water resources

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Air pollution from mining activities

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Increased roads and traffic footprint

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Visual impacts on local population and tourism

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Loss of access to beaches and coastline for recreational activities such as surfing and fishing

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Damage to the fragile dune system, which has evolved over millions of years as part of the natural interface between land and sea.

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Alteration of the natural beach profile, and its dynamic equilibrium with the wave energy

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Knock-on impacts on land-based ecosystems

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Loss of archaeological resources and fossils

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Loss of indigenous heritage sites