5 Nov 2019

Council moves to return Foulden Maar to public ownership

From Nine To Noon, 9:08 am on 5 November 2019
A pit at Foulden Maar, near Middlemarch. A proposal to mine diatomite would see the entire crater destroyed.

A pit at Foulden Maar, near Middlemarch. Photo: Wikicommons

Dunedin City Council has served a notice of its intention to buy the 23 million-year-old  fossil rich crater lake near Middlemarch, and it may use the Public Works Act to force through a deal.

Mayor Aaron Hawkins says the council has served "notices of desire'' to Plaman Resources Ltd, the site's owner, in a  first step which could end in a compulsory purchase by the council.

It comes as liquidators for Plaman Resources Ltd prepare to sell the land, which has a mining permit.

A fossil Galaxias fish from Foulden Maar.

A fossil Galaxias fish from Foulden Maar. Photo: John Lindquist