Kiwi mine closure a walk in the park

The operators of a mine in New Zealand are mulling turning the site into an outdoor art gallery after mining wraps up.

Owner Gold and Resource Development (GRD) has proposed that the Macraes open-pit gold mine, the country’s largest, become a showcase for local and international artists. Plans call for the installation of small- and large-scale pieces at various spots throughout the property.

Current reclamation plans call for the pit to be flooded with water from a river over 20 years, but the region’s arid conditions would force the mine to compete with local communities for water resources, the company says.

“We have to ask ourselves whether, in times of drought, and in an area with a net annual water loss through evaporation, this is an appropriate use,” says Len Jubber, Macraes’ operations manager.

Instead, the company wants to hire a curator to commission pieces for the property. The company hopes to turn the mine into a tourist attraction and park, complete with accommodations and trails for horses and mountain bikes.

The plan is still preliminary, as an expansion project is expected to extend operations for another 12 years. The US$26-million expansion is designed to boost production to 170,000 oz. per year, an increase of 50% over figures recorded previously.