Land rehabilitation at Golden
Cross is reviewed, 8 years after mine closure in 1997/98, from the perspectives
of a Peer Reviewer (land rehabilitation) and a Regional Council Officer
(Resource Consents compliance). Land rehabilitation items we discuss include:
management of restored pastures, native plantings (on-site riparian and block
plantings and off-site environmental riparian enhancement plantings), wetlands
(on-site tailings lake and sediment ponds littoral zone plantings, and basement
of the open pit; and off-site wetlands enhancement plantings), pine plantations
on-site and on surrounding land, stabilization of the Tailings Lake Embankment
(landslide) and Open Pit capping, capping of acid-mine-rock, stability of
discharge channels, buildings and amenities, public access for recreation,
educational uses, and future management of the site. Pest control has helped to conserve the rare and
endangered Hochstetter's (Leiopelma hochstetteri) and Archey's (L. archeyi)
frogs, and a regionally significant stand of rare swamp maire (Syzygium maire)
has been conserved and fenced.