Old West Coast quarries pose danger
The risks to the public from two disused quarries on the West Coast are “huge”, with one local leader saying the situation is “incredibly urgent”.
Both quarries belong to the West Coast Regional Council – one is near Blackball and the other at Kiwi Point near Stillwater, east of Greymouth.
The council temporarily suspended its quarry operations throughout the Coast in May so it could “reset” its management of them and prepare a new tender process for each of its active quarries at Inchbonnie, Camelback (Kowhitirangi) and at Okuru in Haast.
A consultant was called in to review the current status of each quarry, including those no longer used.
Keri Harrison told the council meeting on Wednesday the quarries at Blackball and Kiwi Point would both need further technical safety work to cover the council's legal liability.
The Blackball one presented a risk to users on the recently widened Croesus Rd, “with rock looking to exit on to the road”.
It had been out of use for about a decade.
“It has fractured quite significantly in the past four years ... it's moving.”
The movement was visible from the road and the site needed updated signage. Ideally the site would be closed permanently, but mitigating the obvious risk at the site had to be undertaken to meet new legal requirements for quarry operators, Harrison said.
“A geotech report might recommend blasting the face and letting the rock fall and block access.”
Vibration from heavy machinery during the road widening would have accelerated rock movement, she said.
The road was improved in line with the opening of the new Paparoa Track Great Walk in late 2019.
Cr Laura Coll-McLaughlin said the Blackball issue sounded “incredibly urgent”.
“You don't know when it is going to go.”
Public safety was at stake and the council needed to act immediately to cover its liability, she said.
Coll-McLaughlin said it seemed the immediate risk should be notified straight away to at least warn the public.
Harrison said she had last looked at the Kiwi Point quarry in 2018, but it was hard to access this time.
Access to State Highway 7 had been previously flagged following reports in 2018 and 2021, which she described as "horrendous".
A WorkSafe notice in 2018 had restricted that quarry's use due to the difficult access.
“It is a hazard that needs to be addressed. My recommendation is to decommission ... the risks are huge.”
Rockfall risk there would have major consequences “but the likelihood is still moderate”.
However, a new assessment was needed to mitigate immediate danger.
Kiwi Point was coincidentally the site of a large slip that came down on the adjacent railway line, striking the TranzAlpine passenger train on the way to Greymouth early this month.
Kalle
"Sports and travelling run in the family, and that's kind of what's led me to come to New Zealand."
"I grew up in a small town in Finland. My dad was involved with sports all his life, he was a shot putter, discus thrower, powerlifter, we traveled quite a bit when I was a kid. He never mentioned much of the rugby days. He just said he broke both of his shin bones playing rugby, so he said, ‘never play the sport, It's crazy.’
I started playing when I was 18. I played my first cap for the Finnish national team in 2014, we won the Finnish championship with my club. Rugby is not a big thing in Finland.
I moved here to play rugby in 2017. The club that wanted me to come over was Methven Rugby Club. They got me here and they were like, ‘what do you do for work? I’d just finished chef school in Finland. ‘We'll get you a job at Mount Hutt as a chef, you can do that while you play rugby with us.’ I said, ‘Perfect. Yeah, I'm in’.
I've always loved food. My mum was an amazing cook, and still is. When I was studying tourism I worked in some hotels in Finland, and I saw how the chef's worked. I just loved the kitchen vibe and I was like, Yeah, that’d be something I'd love to do.
I've had more of a culinary journey In New Zealand than in Finland. I started at Mount Hutt, after that I worked at The Dubliner in Methven. I worked as a senior pizza chef at Sal’s for maybe six months then worked as chef de partie at Cellar Door. At Eliza's Manor, I worked myself up to a junior sous chef. Then the opportunity came to work my first head chef job at Moon Under Water.
We're privileged to have a busy atmosphere, we can try new things and get a bit creative. There are no TV’s, just come here with your family or with your mates, play board games, to socialise.
I really want to drive the local food and ingredients through the menu. We don't mind spending more for quality ingredients as long as it's supporting New Zealand businesses. We just love to use local. And it's pub food, but I feel like it's elevated.
I play club rugby here for the Christchurch Football Club, the oldest club in New Zealand and I still play regularly for the Finnish national team, whenever they can fly me over to play."
- Kalle
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Poll: Is it okay to grocery shop in your PJs?
I'm sure you've seen it while doing your weekly shop... In fact, it may have even been you.
What do you think about people heading to the supermarket in their pyjamas?
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14.5% It's fine!
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75% It's questionable
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10.6% Other - I'll share below
Vanessa
“Giggly girt! Giggly girt!”
“See I got my hair cut on Friday. I've got my hair band to keep it up. See? Like this I keep it up.
Biscuit Blair - she's my favourite woman. And you. And that cheeky lady over there.
My last name is Rule. I'll write it down for you, you silly old duff.
I was born on West Coast. I moved here when I was a little girl.
I like doing pictures here that’s why I like pictures. Doing art. I like going for a walk. I come here Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
My sister, I go see her on Saturday. Have a cup of coffee, at home. She's five, nine. 59. I'm five, seven, 57. This year I'll be 58. My birthday's on a Thursday. I'm having chocolate cake and pizza. And lolly ice cream.
Some people are noisy. Nicholas, and Peter and Chris, they are my friends and that giggly girt over there.
I get headache sometimes at other work, because noisy.
I'm happy here. I could go for a walk if I want to. I'm good.”
- Vanessa, White Room Creative Spaces
The White Room is a community creative space that removes barriers to
making art. Through this, artists build confidence and connections and
embrace new opportunities.
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