Solid Energy undertaking wildlife searches

26 January 2009

Solid Energy undertaking wildlife searches ahead of resource drilling

Solid Energy has begun to search for and shift native wildlife from the first of about 35 temporary drilling sites within its Upper Waimangaroa Mining Permit, north of Westport, the site of its planned Cypress Opencast Mine.

The Department of Conservation (DoC) issued a wildlife permit for the programme in mid-December. Among the species under consideration are the Great Spotted Kiwi (Roroa), Powelliphanta “patrickensis” native land snails and three species of lizard.

A trained kiwi search dog and handler will first cover all sites and surrounding areas, using global positioning (GPS) equipment to record the location of any burrows and other areas of kiwi activity. Immediately before any work is undertaken at each drill site, a trained person will check any burrows that are found. Any eggs or chicks found will be transferred to the New Zealand Conservation Trust at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, near Christchurch, for incubation and rearing as part of DoC’s Kiwi Recovery Programme.

An earlier survey across the area showed that the Powelliphanta “patrickensis” snail is present in patches. With its wider range and over-all greater numbers, this species has a lower threat classification than the Powelliphanta “Augustus” snail, which lives on the western edge of Solid Energy’s neighbouring Stockton Opencast Mine.

Shortly before each site is prepared for the drilling rigs to be flown in by helicopter, experienced snail searchers will comb the site for “patrickensis” snails. They will make a GPS record of each live snail and empty snail shell found. Live snails will be carefully placed in similar habitat nearby. The details of any lizards encountered will be recorded before they are released at least 50m away.

The drilling rigs will be gathering core samples to assist in Solid Energy’s planned development of the mine. The company has all other permissions required to conduct the drilling programme, including a Mining Permit, resource consents, an access agreement and authority to enter and operate.

ENDS

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