Gold application opposed

Press, 11 April 1978, Page 6

Gold application opposed

Wellington reporter An application to mine gold on Huts Beach, South Westland, has been opposed by the Nature Conservation Council.

The applicants — Messrs Johnson and Barton — propose to use an electro-chem-ical process. Both known processes for extraction by this method use toxic and/or highly corrosive materials. The council said a spillage could result in serious environmental damage, while the area’s iso-, lation would make monitoring difficult. The proposed site was close to a sand spit which controlled the mouth of the Manakaiaua River. Serious erosion could result • if this spit were breached: if the sea had direct access up the river it might enter a large swamp behind the beach. A husband and wife team, J. F. and R. E. Gemmell,

(have applied for a 10-year 'mining licence to mine greenstone on the beach between Hacket River and Kelp Rock, also in South Westland.

They intend to walk over the beach and select stone by hand. But if they find large stones, they intend to hire a bulldozer for recovery and removal. The Westland Catchment Board is seeking in protecting the natural environment of the area, which is 85 kilometres south-west of Haast and so remote from supervision.

The did not oppose the application, but it supported the catchment board that no bulldozers be used without the board’s consent.

Any infringement or negligence by the applicants which caused environmental damage to the area should result in an immediate cancellation of the licence, the council said.