New Zealand needs to be technically surveyed before anyone is likely to be interested in new areas of mining land, says the New Zealand Minerals Association.The government has proposed a nine-month technical investigation into areas in Schedule Four that
New Zealand needs to be technically surveyed before anyone is likely to be interested in new areas of mining land, says the New Zealand Minerals Association.
The government has proposed a nine-month technical investigation into areas in Schedule Four that it did not have data for, additional to the 7000 ha proposed in Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee’s ‘Maximising our Mineral Potential’ document.
The programme will include airborne geophysical exploration, mapping and sampling.
Mr Brownlee’s spin-doctor could not give NBR a figure last night but the areas include:
NZ Minerals Association chief executive Doug Gordon said the entire country should be surveyed.
“That would not only assess the potential to turn up minerals but also information that’s good for local government planning, habitat protection and more.”
He said the Government’s $4 million budget for the survey “won’t scratch the surface”.
“It would take probably in the order of 10 or more times that to survey the whole country.”
Not only would a survey – similar to Crown Minerals seismic data released for the oil and gas industry – become “the lightning rod” for investment but provide information useful to infrastructure including roading or electricity, he said.
Mr Gordon said the proposal would ensure there would not be a “gold rush” effect. “It’s not really a speculative thing, because people come on the basis of the information about the prospect.
“If that information doesn’t exist, it’s not going to be attractive.”
But he said there would be interest. “It’s not going to happen fast…there will not be anyone doing anything sneakily or under the radar.”
He welcomed a rational decision. “There has to be a balance between minerals and biodiversity. I want to see the best outcome for the country and if that means leaving minerals in the ground – then leave them.”
