West Coast Mines Rescue has been contracted by the Department of Conservation to monitor the now abandoned Pike River Mine.
File photo: Pike River re-entry in 2019: a barrier is placed in front of the mine portal. Photo: Pike River Recovery Agency / Supplied
DOC Western South Island director Mark Davies told the West Coast Conservation Board that with the formal transfer of the mine area to the department there were ongoing requirements around the now sealed underground mine.
Pike River was technically classified under mining regulations as 'abandoned'.
However, the now disbanded Pike River Recovery Agency had transferred to DOC a sealed mine and it would require some ongoing monitoring.
"We have contracted Mines Rescue to be doing that monitoring on our behalf, in accordance with the post-closure plan," Davies said.
This included monitoring mine water running out of the drift.
Technology using remote monitoring equipment alleviated the need to have monitoring staff on site constantly.
Davies said the department was funded for the ongoing management of the mine site.
An amount for this had been "on hold" after the department received capital and operational funding for the Paparoa Track in 2016-17, with the Pike agency working to 'recover' the drift in the intervening period.
There was also some work to do on the access road and bridge.
Meanwhile, construction of the Pike 29 Memorial Track -- running off the Paparoa Track - was nearly complete and on target to open later this year or early in 2023.
Davies said the department was working in conjunction with the Pike 29 families and Te Runanga o Ngati Waewae to formalise the opening.
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