The Department of Conservation has granted approval for a quarry in South Westland, New Zealand.
The South Westland quarry was approved under the Crown Minerals Act 1991. The approval means that Kokiri Lime Company Limited can operate a one-hectare site located south of Fox Glacier in the Te Wāhipounamu. The company originally applied for a 15-hectare site.
The site is located on South New Zealand World Heritage Area (WHA) on stewardship land and is considered a historic quarry.
Acting Department of Conservation (DOC) director general Stephanie Rowe said the quarry will supply rock for critical infrastructure projects.
“The quarry is of strategic importance to the West Coast, with major infrastructure projects benefitting both economically and environmentally from locally sourced rock. It will supply rock for local flood protection and roading projects,” she said.
“I’m confident that the quarry will not compromise the outstanding natural heritage of this area or the integrity of the World Heritage Area as a whole. The quarry approved for operation is small, at a size of one hectare, relative to the 2.6 million hectare WHA.
“Factors in the decision are its location on the very edge of the WHA, its proximity to a previously modified site with regenerating vegetation, and the consideration of specific values at the site.
“The approval requires the operator to take measures to mitigate the landscape effects of the quarry and protect local wildlife.”
The post New Zealand quarry gains key approval appeared first on Quarry.