Central Otago District Council planning, infrastructure and regulatory acting group manager Quinton Penniall said the council had held discussions with Santana Mining Ltd over claims it had blocked public access to legal roads in the Thomson Gorge area.
"Council have confirmed and are satisfied that Santana have not prevented any legal public access with fencing or locking of gates," Mr Penniall said.
However, the council had identified that there were historical long-standing property boundary fences that did cross the paper road alignment in the Shepherds Creek area, he said.
It would contact the relevant landowners to discuss that.
"Santana mining have not restricted public access on any other roads in the area," Mr Penniall said.
Santana senior adviser communications and government relations Polly Clague said the company had put a sign on a private landowners’ gate in the Shepherds Valley to discourage people from coming on to private property for their health and safety while drill exploration was ongoing.
Santana’s website says if the proposed gold mine goes ahead, part of Thomson Gorge Rd will be closed but public access will be maintained to the Come In Time stamper battery and Department of Conservation reserves.
A walking route would be available for the public to access the stamper battery, and an alternative route would be constructed to enable public access to continue across the Dunstan Mountains.
In a public-excluded session this week, councillors discussed land access for the proposed mine and authorised council chief executive Peter Kelly to continue land access negotiations with the company.
Mr Kelly said the council’s role in the discussion was as a landowner, not as a regulator.
"The Crown Minerals Act sets out the process that mining companies must follow when access to land is required.
"Our involvement is limited to landowner responsibilities. Any statutory obligations under other legislation (including the Resource Management Act, Public Works Act or Local Government Act) remain entirely separate and unaffected by any potential access agreement."
Any road-stopping would be subject to separate process under the Public Works or Local Government Acts, Mr Kelly said.
"The fact that council is required to negotiate an access agreement does not in any way predetermine or affect our regulatory decision-making responsibilities."
Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa, the Outdoor Access Commission regional field adviser Amie Pont said
it was great to hear Santana had not blocked the road.
"It’s important that with significant projects such as these we are clear that public access is important and should be maintained."
