Como in Coast mining spree

Press, 21 October 1987, Page 47

Como in Coast mining spree

By PAT TAYLOR in Greymouth Como Holdings, of Hold* tika, purchased a Reefton private coal mine company and has made often to another 12 mines In the Grey Valley and Reefton coalfields. Como has bought Starline Minerals, Ltd, a pub11c unlisted coal producer for an undisclosed sum, and the newly appointed chief executive of Starline, and a present alternate director of Como, Mr Lindsay Smith, said yesterday that the company was committed to spendIng between $lO million and $l5 million in expandlng its coal base. The initial purchase Involves four major coal mining licences In the Reefton area and are both opencast and underground collieries formerly owned by Mr Bert Waghorn, of Reefton, who has been

appointed managing director of the new com* pany. The board of the re* structured Starllne Mlnerals now comprises the chief executive of Como Holdings, Mr Bruce Smith, who is chairman, Mrs Sue Suckling, the 1980 Business Woman of the Year, Mr Waghorn and Mr Lindsay Smith, The company has also confirmed the appoint* ment of Mr John McLoughlin, a former Assistant Conservator of Forests for Westland as group administration officer. The Reefton mines so far purchased have a combined workforce of 15, and with the proposed expansion, Starline Mlnerals could become a major employer in the Reefton and Grey Valley areas, said Mr Lindsay Smith.