Mayors oppose Rakiura mining

BY DEBBIE JAMIESON

Southland District Mayor Frana Cardno is standing alongside Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt in opposition to the potential mining of Rakiura – Stewart Island.

She said yesterday she was horrified at the suggestion Stewart Island could be mined.

"I believe we should leave our national parks alone. Stewart Island is absolutely unique," she said. "I'm with Tim on this."

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt said he was in shock that mining of the island could even be considered.

The Government announced on Monday it would spend $4 million investigating several areas for mining potential including Stewart Island and the Longwoods in Western Southland.

An Economic Development Ministry report says there could be minerals including gold, copper, tin and tungsten worth an estimated $7 billion on the island.

Previous gold and tin mining, and prospecting in the 1800s, early 1900s and in the 1970s had yielded little.

But "despite limited exploration information available for the area ... the island is regarded as having high prospectivity," the report says.

Chairman of the Ngai Tahu group responsible for consulting with DOC on the Southland Conservation Estate Michael Skerrett said he was concerned.

"There would have to be a lot of consideration go into it."

With only 14km of road on the island massive roadworks would be required for access to other spots.

"The impact on such a pristine area would be huge.

Freight boat owner and operator Ian Munro said the mining could be done without "great pits".

"I honestly believe if anything does happen in New Zealand it'll have to be within the Resource Management Act and that will safeguard the environment."

Mr Munro could remember Invercargill businessmen including William Todd mining at Port Pegasus in the 1970s.

A tram line was built but when the anticipated tin mining was unsuccessful, it was changed to a water race and they sluiced for gold instead.

"From what I know they never really found anything in very great amounts."

Former New Zealand Conservation Board member and tourism business owner Margaret Hopkins said she was appalled at the idea of mining on Stewart Island and could not see any benefit for local businesses. "Usually, it's major overseas companies that have the money to invest in these kind of projects. Despite the promised spinoffs, often the reality is that people in the local area don't benefit by any degree ... it's desecration of the worst kind."

Mr Shadbolt raised the issue under urgent business at yesterday's city council finance and policy committee meeting, saying he believed it was part of the National-led Government's "catch up to Australia" campaign. "But, of course, Australia's minerals are under desert and ours are under pristine national parks."

City councillors agreed to write to the Southland District Council and Environment Southland to get their thoughts on the Stewart Island mining proposal.

- © Fairfax NZ News