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Authority abandons mine blast victim recovery

Pike River Mine recovery
Pike River Mine recovery

A federal agency gave up on removing remains of dozens of workers who died in an underground mining explosion.

The Pike River Recovery Agency was officially disbanded on 31 March 2022, and the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) will take control of the abandoned Pike River Mine, 274km northwest of Christchurch.

“DOC will then be the custodians of the site, resulting in mine workers (seven) leaving the agency’s employment. Two remaining agency mining senior staff members will be working until 14 April to support DOC as they become even more familiar with the mine site and completing any other outstanding actions if they arise,” acting chief executive Michelle Wessing said in her last operational update.

“From now DOC will be the point of contact for the families on all matters relating to Pike River Mine as it takes over guardianship of the mine site from the agency, effective from … 1 April.”

The mine’s abandonment completely dashed hopes for loved ones who wanted to be reunited with the bodies of 29 deceased workers that were never recovered due to safety concerns. Only two survivors managed to escape since the 2010 blast.

All mine infrastructure, hired equipment, 16km of fibre optic cables, 4km of tube bundle gas monitoring lines, information communication technology (ICT), and Swift Energy NZ ICT equipment has already been removed.

The entire mine site and hill area has been safely rehabilitated, resource consents and mining permits surrendered, and mine abandonment application submitted to WorkSafe NZ.

Turners fleet sales representative Carl Williams has been appointed to auction off a white diesel 2010 Toyota Landcruiser Prado with 279,354km on the odometer, white diesel 2010 Toyota Hilux with 161,314km on the odometer, and a 2010 Elite tandem axle trailer.

No reserve has been set for the unconditional sale in Christchurch at 12pm (NZ time) on 11 April 2022.

Click here to read the last operational update.

Pike River recovers loader
Pike River: Mine re-entry team reaches the roof fall
Products of combustion and underground work at Pike River Mine
Pike River Mine: Loader, robot and safety.

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  • While very sad for the families left behind, there has to be a limit placed on the amount of time & money the government continue to pour into disturbing the dead.