Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust (OGHT) president Warwick Hawker said former president Martin Anderson’s comments in recent ODT stories were his personal views and did not reflect the trust’s official position.
"The OGHT does not oppose the proposed mining project by Santana Mining Ltd," Mr Hawker said.
After Santana Minerals Ltd put up a no-entry sign restricting access to an unnamed road, known as the historic Shepherds Creek road, Mr Anderson told the ODT people should stand up to the company, which is hoping to get permission to mine the area using the new fast-track legislation.
The road, which starts on the Lindis Valley floor and rises along Shepherds Creek to the Ardgour Conservation Area in the Dunstan Mountains, passes through an area with 19th century gold-mining ruins.
Mr Anderson last week told the ODT the company was acting "in a high-handed fashion" by blocking access to private property people must pass through to get to the road.
However, Mr Hawker, the trust’s current president, said the trust remained open to working with the mining company.
The trust’s "primary concern" was ensuring continued public access to significant historic gold-mining sites in the Shepherd Creek area.
Those sites were important parts of Central Otago’s goldfield history and should remain accessible for education and heritage purposes, Mr Hawker said.
"[We] are encouraged to know that Santana Minerals is planning to provide alternative, improved public access to the Come in Time heritage site and undertake stabilisation work that is required there."
The OGHT had for many years benefited from sponsorship from gold-mining companies and individuals and the trust welcomed that as it enabled it to maintain and interpret goldfield heritage sites around the region.
Santana Minerals was sponsoring the OGHT hosting of the World Gold Panning Championships in Cromwell next year, Mr Hawker said.
"The trust believes heritage preservation and responsible resource development can co-exist when approached collaboratively."
The trust would work with all stakeholders — including Santana Minerals, the Central Otago District Council and the Outdoor Access Commission — to find solutions that maintained public access to heritage sites, respected legitimate property rights and supported heritage interpretation and protection through the legal process, he said.
