Page 82 - 00 Volume 5 The Mine

area to grazing. The aim of the reserve is to sanitary landfill at the adjacent low lying land
have controlled game bird hunting over part of next to the western perimeter drain extending
the area combined with controlled grazing on north to the oxidation ponds. Surface excavation
dryer areas. and sealing with drains to collect leachate for
State Coal Mines have agreed for the release treatment, and a programme of filling the land
of land held under Part III of the Coal Mines Act ahead of underground mining would create
requested for the reserve and will be providing up suitable industrial land adjacent to the road and
to $50 per hectare for tree planting and track rail access to serve the Huntly East Mine. Use

preparation. of the facilities would not be practical until mining
ceased, and an industrial subdivision could be part
of the long-term land use proposals.
Huntly Borough Council
Huntly Borough has a requirement for Waikato County Council - Airfield
land to accommodate improved services to cater
for an expected residential and industrial The Waikato County Council took part of the
expansion. There is a need for flat land, close to Crown Land reclaimed by the construction of the
the Borough, for public utilities such as the stopbank and dumping of soil prior to opencast
oxidation ponds for sewerage disposal and rubbish mining. The Councils intention was to form a
tip, both present in the study area. The Borough Category B airfield capable of taking Group 7
Council consider that if further land was available aircraft. Such airfields are generally unsealed
in this area, then noxious industries could, with and are used for general aviation such as 3 - 7
easy access to the main railway line, be attracted to passenger single and twin engined aircraft. The
Huntly. airfield would provide a base for the three light
In addition, two recreational clubs in the aircraft currently owned by residents in and near

Borough require land at the present time. Huntly, which are used for business and private
purposes. At present, the nearest registered airfield
1 The Rotongaro Pony Club is seeking is at Te Kowhai, 30 kilometers distant. It was
approximately 4 hectares of nearly flat proposed that Huntly Borough and Raglan
pasture to cater for their total range of County Council share the cost of construction,
equestrian activities. This includes as rate payers in each local authority could profit
access to horse trails on adjacent land from this new public utility. The supporters of
such as the wetlands and perimeter of the airfield proposal consider that it would serve
Lake Kimihia for club jaunts. At as a base for top-dressing aircraft and an
present, the club has 30 members, and aeroclub, in addition to satisfying the existing
is about to lose the small block of land need of local aircraft owners.
they currently use adjacent to the State
Highway. State Coal Mines will assist with the
earthworks required to form a 610 metre by 50

2 The Huntly Car Club established a road metre airstrip up to an amount similar to that
circuit for their club activities on the Waikato required to re-establish pasture within the Part III
County land within the study area, which it Coal Mines Act areas.
is hoped will be developed as an Airfield. The consultants have noted two suggested
The club is keen to work with State Coal alignments for the airstrip on this land:
Mines if land could be made available for Option "A" (0950) would be the cheapest in
their use and to launch a fund raising terms of necessary earthworks, but would limit
campaign to construct the facilities at a new other land use within the area.
circuit. Option "B" (0650) conforms to the most
suitable alignment for the prevailing winds, and
State Coal Mines have agreed to put into would allow the Huntly Car Club to establish a
pasture the area sought by the Pony Club, and new circuit on this land and share parking and

the land has been prepared for sowing. The other facilities as they were established.
Department of Lands and Survey have agreed to There are further opportunities for multiple
lease this land directly to the Pony Club. use of this land. The development of an airfield
The consultants recommend to State Coal would necessitate the provision of some shelter,
Mines that they encourage the Huntly Borough clubrooms if an Aero Club was formed, toilet
Council to cease operations at the present refuse facilities and a car parking area. The cost and use
site, and design a properly prepared and managed of these facilities could be shared with other