A previous commemoration for Pike River families at the mine's drift. Photo: LDR / Supplied
The West Coast Conservation Board will visit the Pike River Mine site privately on 25 May.
Chairman Mike Legge said the visit would involve the Department of Conservation, iwi, and representatives of some of the Pike River families.
The board has an interest in the site as it is being developed in conjunction with the Pike 29 Memorial Track.
In March the board tentatively pencilled in its May meeting at the former Pike River Coal Company headquarters, in view of the upcoming development and handover of the site.
However, Dr Legge said on Tuesday that holding a meeting at the site had now been ruled out.
Instead the board would conduct its quarterly meeting at Blackball, followed by a visit to the mine site at Atarau.
DOC is working towards opening the Pike 29 Track and associated mine site memorial later this year.
It has started work on improvements to the 10km access road, including upgrading the bridges.
The department was last month granted non-notified consent by the West Coast Regional Council for stream diversion and sediment discharges associated with the bridge work.
New members to be appointed
The Minister of Conservation is expected to appoint four new members to the West Coast Conservation Board by July.
The board can have up to 11 members. The terms of current chairman Dr Mike Legge and deputy chairwoman Katie Milne are up for appointment, although both have indicated their wish for another term.
Dr Legge said current board member Di Rossiter of Westport was standing down early, and another vacant position on the board had not been filled.
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