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Dolomite Mining Permitted in Park

Posted on: Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 15:00 CST

By MURDOCH, Helen

A Swiss-owned company has been granted a reduced consent to continue mining dolomite in a rare endemic forest in Kahurangi National Park.

Conservation Minister Chris Carter yesterday granted Omya New Zealand a 25-year mining permit over 8.86ha on the upper slopes of Mount Burnett, in northern Golden Bay.

The company will have to contribute $15,000 a year for weeding and pest control and put up a $100,000 bond against failure to rehabilitate the site.

Both figures are to be adjusted every five years.

The permit replaced the company's mining licence over 128 ha, which is to expire next month.

Last year, Omya NZ applied to mine 11.46 ha for 40 years.

However, Department of Conservation Nelson-Marlborough conservator Neil Clifton said access had been limited to 25 years and an area of endemic plants had been excluded from the new licence.

An endemic species is an indigenous species which is found only within a specified region, and is unique to that area.

Mount Burnett is New Zealand's only commercial source of dolomite, which is a form of limestone infused with magnesium and used by farmers for pasture growth and animal health.

Omya NZ operations manager Alan Gerrard said compromises had been made by both parties in reaching agreement.

The mining footprint of the new licence covered the current quarry, which would be progressively re- excavated and rehabilitated, he said.

The reduced licence term would see expected dolomite production fall from an estimated 2 million to 3m tonnes over 40 years, to 1m to 1.5m tonnes over 25 years.

The company already undertook weed and pest management and had trialled the propagation and planting of endemic plants over the past five years, he said.

The continuance of the mine would give farmers surety of dolomite supply.

The land on which the mine operates was part of the former North West Nelson Park that was not included in the Kahurangi National Park, when it was created in 1996 because it was subject to mining.

It is also home to a very rare and highly unusual forest, which has evolved on Mount Burnett due to its distinctive geology, topography, altitude and climate.

Clifton said DOC's primary consideration had been to ensure the preservation of the six species of native shrub and sedge, and a species of giant snail, that were found nowhere else in New Zealand.

Forest and Bird's regional field officer Debs Martin said the wisdom of DOC's decision to grant the licence relied on Omya's ability to rehabilitate the land and stop the spread of weeds.

Source: Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand

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