The Stockton opencut operation, the largest in New Zealand, is between 500-1100m above sea level in the Buller Coalfield, 35km north of Westport on the west coast of the South Island.

Solid Energy has applied for permission with the Department of Conservation (DOC) under the Wildlife Act to move the snails and their habitat 400m, according to Stuff.co.nz.

Solid Energy environmental manager Mark Pizey told Stuff.co.nz Solid Energy would take every care to maintain the population in its new location.

It is still a contentious issue as to the colony’s species, with some scientists suggesting the snail could be the endangered powelliphanta augustus snail, which number less than 1000. DOC are currently carrying out genetic trials on the snails to properly identify them.

The translocation of the Stockton snails could pave the way for plans to shift a larger colony of related giant snails at the Cypress Mine, currently under development.

Solid Energy was granted resource consents by the Environment Court in May 2005 to develop and operate Cypress Opencast Mine. Solid Energy said the Environment Court acknowledged Solid Energy’s draft management plans for the kiwi and the snail in the area, accepting its proposal to create a predator-proof reserve of some 17 hectares and an extensive predator control program in a wider area.

Solid Energy was originally granted resource consents in June 2004 but the Buller Conservation Group, Forest & Bird, and Te Runanga O Ngati Waewae subsequently filed appeals. The DOC and local group Ngakawau Riverwatch have since settled their appeals.