Property developer exploring mining possibilities at seaside beauty spot

The Rapahoe block, with function beneath way under the Twelve Apostles Selection.
Photograph: Brendon McMahon / Greymouth Star

A distinguished 16ha block bordering the seaside settlement of Rapahoe and State Highway 6 could be subdivided into way of life-measurement residential blocks.

However, developer Terry Birchfield states he is also checking out the risk of mining the web site, which has a spectacular Twelve Apostles Selection backdrop.

Tall flax and scrub and some bush re-growth has been flattened or cleared and new drains fashioned given that Birchfield acquired the assets previously this yr.

Fox River resident Andrew Beaumont contacted the Greymouth Star involved that function might be destroying what appeared to be a normal wetland.

“They are chopping into that regrowth of bush and placing in drains,” he mentioned. “It seems to me like a pretty massive indigenous wetland space that could be appeared following.”

However, Birchfield stated the block was not naturally swampy, even with passing impressions. Run-off from the adjacent freeway intended water experienced nowhere else to go.

“The street drain runs across into our location and there is no drain managing away from it, and it is really created a bloody mess of it. The road board (NZTA) is growling at me. We’re getting the water from the other side of the highway.”

The internet site alone experienced great normal drainage on sand, about 1m to 1.5m beneath the prime layer of soil, he stated.

The foreseeable future subdivision would be serviced with electricity and linked to drinking water, becoming near to services in Runanga and Rapahoe.

Any progress was a pretty “gradual task” but the land was appealing for subdivision supplied its proximity to the coastline.

At the very same time, test sampling for possible sand-primarily based mineral content experienced been carried out.

“You will find all sorts of minerals close to these days. Gold is a person of them, but we’re all a bit ahead of our time,” Birchfield stated.

West Coastline Regional Council acting consents and compliance supervisor Rachel Clark stated the council was aware of preliminary perform for some kind of potential progress along Rapahoe straight.

“We are examining it, and we want to glimpse into it. I think they ended up undertaking most of what they were being undertaking less than permitted activity rules.”

Gray District Council senior planner Michael McEnaney claimed the web site was not an discovered important normal location in the district prepare. Nor experienced it been discovered as an outstanding natural landscape or an spot of large normal character inside of the proposed Te Tai o Poutini Strategy.

The NZ Transportation Company has been approached for comment.

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