Residents Concerned that An Unique Part of Southland’s Landscape May Disappear

A group of residents in the Castledowns/Dipton West area are very concerned that a significant limestone formation in the area, which is part of the Northern Southland Heritage Trail, is being quarried by Ravensdown.

Residents spokesperson Stephen Clearwater said that since the end of the summer residents have noticed significant mining activity on the rock is taking place.

Residents have so far had three meetings with Ravensdown and understand thataround the third of the formation is set to be mined and this will radically alter a local landmark.

The group have sought to see if the Resource Management Act can be used to stop the mining, but this does not appear to be the case.

“Ravensdown has ‘right of use’ over the land, but we’re concerned that once they’ve taken the top off there will be considerable further damage”, he said.

Southland District Council Mayor Frana Cardno said, “This is a very significant landscape, one of the few of its kind in New Zealand and an icon that must be preserved for future generations to enjoy”.

Concerned residents held further talks with representatives from Ravensdown at a public meeting at the Dipton Golf Club at 8 pm last night (10 October).