Mine may affect 70 houses

Press, 19 February 1986, Page 23

Mine may affect 70 houses

PA Hamilton The introduction of longwall mining at the Huntly West mine in 1988 is expected to cause land slumping over about 2000 ha and could affect 70 houses, says State Coal Mines.

State Coal plans to develop coal reserves north of the present Huntly West mine using longwall mining methods, which are new to New Zealand. Coal would be cut by machine from a long face, with roof collapse behind and subsequent land slumping above. The final go-ahead for longwalling at Huntly West is expected from the Cabinet in early 1987. Longwalling at the mine will cause slumping and surface ponding but full impacts have not been

worked out yet. Three longwall units are planned for the mine, whose coal is marked for the Huntly power station. At a press conference in Huntly, the Huntly West environmental activity manager, 'Mr Peter Lawless, said that up to 2000 ha of rural land between Lake Waahi and Lake Rotongaro would be affected by land slumping from late 1988. Mr Lawless said about 30 landowners would be affected by mining subsidence. In all, about 70 houses plus farm buildings were in the subsidence zone. “Certainly some but not all” of those buildings would be made uninhabitable by land slumping, he said. The two-classroom Ro-

tongaro primary school would have to be shifted or a new school built, Mr Lawless said, but that would be 20 years away when longwalling reached the northern end of the mine. Subsidence would also mean that water courses, drains and creeks might be altered and low-lying areas flooded. Breaks in fannwater supply pipelines might occur. State Coal has said that in providing compensation for affected farm land and buildings, it will make every effort to ensure nobody is worse off because of the mine development An environmental . impact report being prepared by consultants to assess the social and physical impact is due for completion in July for

public comment State Coal has released -ja brochure on Huntly West development to go out to landowners in the area. State Coal says it will compensate for slump-... affected farmland and rbuildlngs. Land could be w , bought or buildings repaired depending on; M owner preference. Landowners in the area will be consulted by State ,j. Coal before it details a compensation Through consultants, State - Coal plans to discuss mine development with af- •£.< fected residents, the ; > Maori community,-o workers, and community organisations. Full production from jo the mine is expected to be fo about a million tonnes a year. ;