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A pit at Foulden Maar, near Middlemarch. Photo: Wikicommons
Dunedin City Council has served a notice of its intention to buy the 23 million-year-old fossil rich crater lake near Middlemarch, and it may use the Public Works Act to force through a deal.
Mayor Aaron Hawkins says the council has served "notices of desire'' to Plaman Resources Ltd, the site's owner, in a first step which could end in a compulsory purchase by the council.
It comes as liquidators for Plaman Resources Ltd prepare to sell the land, which has a mining permit.
A fossil Galaxias fish from Foulden Maar. Photo: John Lindquist