Agreement Reached to Manage Historical Sites on Clutha River

New Zealand Historic Places Trust information release
17 February 2003

The New Zealand Historical Places Trust (the Trust) and Contact Energy Limited (Contact) have reached an agreement in principle to identify and manage archaeological sites that may be affected by Contact's hydro generation activities on the Clutha River/Mata-au.

The agreement was announced today by the Trust at the hearings in relation to Contact's application for renewed resource consents to operate its hydro generation facilities on the river.

Trust Senior Archaeologist Dr Rick McGovern-Wilson and Contact Generation Manager David Hill said the agreement established a positive relationship between the two organisations. It would enable effective management of archaeological sites on river or lake margins for the duration of any consents that are granted.

The agreement covers three broad activities, including:

• A detailed survey to record the detail and location of all archaeological sites that are, or are likely to be, affected by ongoing hydro operations. This includes three sections of the river/lake margins not yet comprehensively surveyed: Lake Hawea and down to Albert Town; Alexandra to Clyde; and Tuapeka Mouth to the sea.
• Development of a management plan that will put in place a systematic approach to the management and conservation of at-risk sites.
• Provision to carry out the work required to protect or record archaeological sites identified in the initial survey.

The Trust and Contact now aim to develop a detailed Memorandum of Understanding before the resource consent hearings conclude at the end of this month. Details of costs will remain confidential between the two parties.

For more information:

Dr Rick McGovern-Wilson
Senior Archaeologist
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
Tel: 04 470 8055, or 021 250 1881
Email: rmcgovernwilson@historic.org.nz

OR

Pattrick Smellie
Contact Energy
Ph: 04 462 1449