Jo Macpherson.
Attempts to mine asbestos in a remote area of the Mount
Aspiring National Park in the 1970s were deemed a commercial
failure.
The Otago Daily Times understands a small mining operation
was conducted in the remote Red Hills area, near the head of
the Pyke River and close to the Olvine Wilderness Plateau of
the national park in South Westland.
• Call to Government on national park
mining
The Red Hills area has been recognised in a leaked memo as an
area of the Mount Aspiring National Park that could have its
protected status lifted by the Government to allow mining.
A report from government officials has recommended the Red
Hills area in the west of the park, and a 20% chunk of the
park in the northwest sector, be removed from schedule 4 of
the Crown Minerals Act.
Department of Conservation South Westland area manager Jo
Macpherson said she did remember "old" reports of a mining
operation in the area.
However, no records were "available at hand" regarding the
remote mining operation, she said.
The Encyclopedia of New Zealand website Te Ara includes an
excerpt on the asbestos-mining prospectors' camp near the
Pyke River, at the base of Red Mountain in the national park
during the 1970s.
Helicopters serviced the camp while prospectors worked higher
up the slopes.
Asbestos was found but the quality was too low and the
location was too remote for mining to be feasible, Te Ara
says.
Mount Aspiring National Park was created in 1964.
Ms Macpherson said permits could still be sought for mining
activities in the national park.
These would be considered against the relevant policies and
regulations of the Mount Aspiring National Park management
plan, which was under review, she said.
matthew.haggart@odt.co.nz
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