So yesterday 26th the on-site meeting finally took place. I met 3 people from the Queenstown Lakes District Council at the river cafe at 11am. From there we walked up to Cooper’s Terrace, a 10 minute walk along the walking track beside the pipeline while I gave a running commentary about my progress so far. They were very impressed by the sight of the ruins from the track as we approached.
2 archaeologists from Heritage NZ were waiting for us already. We walked over the whole site, obviously, and then chewed over the process going forward from my by now partially-dismantled camp. It was very constructive. Here’s the thing. If I want to restore this historical site, I can basically give it a go. All of these guys were supportive. But there clearly will be a blackberry bramble of applications to be made, new consents applied for, forms to fill etc. etc. Im not really up for that. To return next year I have 2 options: 1. I return just to keep clearing vegetation, ignoring the 3 mounds I feel sure are the 3 missing huts. And keep looking for a high-roller to fund the big picture. Or ... 2. I apply for a new AA which means I can dig and uncover those mounds. The catch is, Heritage NZ regulations mean I would have to be “supervised” by a qualified archaeologist. Which may not sound hard, but there is only 1 guy here, he is only part-time, and he’s super busy. The chances he’ll do it, I think are slim. Who else is there? Don’t know if there is anyone else ..... Everyone is supportive of what I plan to do. The issue for me now is..... the massive amount of work required off-site if I continue with the vision to oversee a full restoration. Right now I am brain-tired and it all sounds like too much. I will think on it once I’ve recovered when the synapses are connecting again.
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Jan MorrisonProject Manager of an archeological dig of a 1800s European mining settlement near Arrowtown, Central Otago. Archives
April 2021
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