30 Oct 2021 OceanaGold WNP Project, Waihi - Archaeological / Heritage Assessment Ventilation Raises On the 4th September 2020 and 9th September 2021 archaeological field survey was carried out at the proposed locations of the four ventilation and one egress shaft (total of up to five shafts). The initial ventilation shaft will be located on farm land to the south of the Coromandel Forest Park along the tunnel alignment. The second through fifth shafts (inclusive) will be located south of the Wharekirauponga orebody within the Coromandel Forest Park. These proposed shaft sites are located in areas of dense native bush in the southern foothills of the Coromandel Range on an unformed legal road (see Figure 6). Access to these areas was gained on foot along rough tracks, several of which were certainly old pack tracks, and by helicopter. In one area north of Corbett Road above the headwaters of the Mataura Stream the track followed benching and cuttings of a previous timber tramway (Figure 31). This area is some distance from the proposed ventilation shaft options and will not be affected. Numerous vent shaft options near the WUG ore body have been identified as potential sites however, other environmental and ecological factors will play a role in the selection of final locations. These sites are all located on an unformed legal road and along a rough track (Figure 32 and Figure 33). The northern most option sites (5, 6 & 8) are in close proximity to the recorded site of the Royal Standard Battery and associated mining remains T12/681. No archaeological or other historic heritage sites were identified within the ventilation shaft option sites identified by OceanaGold. Overlays of known heritage features based on site plans from the NZAA site record (Figure 35) and Survey Plan ML 3836 (1897) (Figure 36) showing features associated with the Royal Standard Mining Claim place the proposed shaft sites clear of the known heritage features associated with T12/681 and will not affect these areas. The proposed shaft options are also located outside the HDP scheduled Royal Standard Battery HAU271 Category B – Heritage Area, Regional or Sub-Regional Significance. A number of surface drilling rigs and a camp have previously been erected at the WUG orebody around and in close proximity to T12/681. According to plans and advice by Oceana Gold these structures were positioned away from known heritage features. This area has not been inspected in detail by the author. No further surface works are planned in this area as part of the Project.
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