70 | Lake returning to its former glory T T Richard Loader Kimihia Lake was drained to mine coal in the 1950s, until the then mine owner, Solid Energy, went out of business in 2015. DEVELOPMENT Kimihia Lakes Development From a giant hole in the ground and the ashes of nothing, something very special is being recreated for the local community in the eastern foothills of Huntly. Now bisected by the Waikato Expressway Kimihia Lake was once one of the largest freshwater lakes in the Waikato region, but when coal was discovered in the area in the late 1800s mining operations took place in the Lake surrounds for over half a century. Coal seams led to tunnelling work under the lake and in the 1950s it was determined to be financially feasible to drain the lake and commence an open cast mining operation in the former lakebed and was known as the Huntly East Mine. The Lake was highly modified to keep water out through a complex system of bunds, artificial drains and the diversion of streams. Tunnelling continued till 2015 when then mine owner Solid Energy went out of business and the land, encompassing 200 hectares, was sold abandoned as is to long time Huntly residents and business owners Murray and Jennifer Allen in 2017. From the mining licenses issued there was a requirement for the land to be returned to its original state or as close as you can get to it. But with Solid Energy out of business there was no mining company left to do the work, and that is where the Allen’s stepped up. The Allen’s along with their son Greg took up the huge challenge and responsibility to restore what was left of the Lake and its ecosystem to its former glory as a recreational lake for the community. “Along with some surrounding land, they got a giant whole in the ground that wanted to be a lake again,” says Project Manager Charlie Young. “When the lake reaches the top it will be 1.7 kilometres long, 600 metres wide and 60 metres deep at its deepest point. So it will be a huge reservoir of fresh water. Before it was a mine it was only a shallow peat lake like many Waikato lakes are.” Part of the Lake is on the eastern side of the expressway, while the largest portion of the original Lake footprint is on the western side, and that is the area now under restoration. “When the pumps were turned off the lakebed began to refill and we now have 18 – 20 metres of water at the deepest point. So it’s usable and we have schools coming here to do some rowing on it. The old mine road that went to the pit is now a boat ramp and works perfectly. As the water rises we have this never ending boat ramp.” The Allen’s have created the Kimihia Lakes Community Charitable Trust (KLCC) as the entity to oversee and manage the $14M - $16M project into the future. The Trust board is made up of a diverse membership including local hapu representation. With a strong focus on returning the cultural values to the site key project stakeholders include all of the Huntly (Raahui Pookeka) community. “The KLCC Trust has partnered with local organisations that not only share the Trust’s vision but who have expertise and experience relevant to the project’s goals.” Charlie says the first priority is to renew the Lake’s former catchment and wetlands ecosystem to reconnect with the eastern portion of the Lake and ultimately to the Waikato River. “The eastern portion of the Lake had continued on in its original state but it never performed ecologically and dries out especially since the Expressway came in. Once our Lake fills up the drainage will go under the Expressway and back into the eastern side, solving a lot of ecological problems for lack of water flow.” By creating new wetlands and native fish habitat enhanced water quality will result to make the Lake suitable for swimming and for recreational water sports. With the ecological rehabilitation of the former Huntly East Mine site now underway the Kimihia Lakes Master Plan will activate the vision for uplifting the community’s overall social, cultural, educational and economic outcomes. The project aims to create a community recreational Centre that will support outdoor education and water sports. “KLCC’s concept is to create a versatile, multipurpose lakeside education and community complex. The cornerstone of the complex would be a bespoke classroom and events venue built in scale and character, capable of attracting an identified and targeted yearround clientele. The design would encompass a strong focus on the historical and cultural landscape of Huntly along with planning for future proofing the overall projects resiliency.” With the ecological rehabilitation currently underway, Charlie expects the Centre’s development to commence in two years and take three to five years to complete. The Kimihia Lakes team look forward to the many challenges that lie ahead for project and the many diverse benefits the project will deliver to the wider Huntly community. www.ckl.co.nz PLANNING. SURVEYING. ENGINEERING. ENVIRONMENTAL. Working alongside our clients – delivering sustainable land development. 07 849 9921 hamilton@ckl.co.nz www.ckl.co.nz
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=