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Hauraki Herald, 7.11.2000

Two letters were recently received by the Waihi Ward Committee regarding the preservation of historic sites in the area and the availability of public access to these sites. The first of these concerned the Ore Roasting Kilns on Union Hill and adjacent mining relics. Council was requested to consider purchasing the sites from Waihi Gold to ensure their protection. The Ward Committee, while acknowledging the historic value of the sites, considered they already had a high degree of protection afforded them through the District Plan and that there was no need to purchase the sites, but considered that it would be wise to pursue the matter of access to the sites and resolved to investigate the possibility of ensuring permanent access for the community.

The other area of concern was the remains of the old dredging plant on the banks of the Ohinemuri River near the end of Lawrence Rd. Council is proposing to subdivide the area for low-density housing. It originally bought the land for sewerage treatment and then subsequently found that it was not required.

The area is a particularly beautiful spot and contains the ruins of the old dredging plant. The proposed subdivision retains the ruins in Council ownership to ensure their protection but the Waihi Walkways Group proposed that the end site of the subdivision also be retained by Council as a reserve.

The Ward Committee considered the matter and decided that there was ample land in public ownership along the river bank to protect the historic sites and to provide access to them and for an extended walkway.

Waihi District Walkways Inc. PO Box 241 Waihi New Zealand

Send e- mail to: Waihi Walkways