STATEMENT: Community thrilled with purchase of Foulden Maar
Thursday 2 February 2023
Local community group Save Foulden Maar is thrilled with the news that Dunedin City Council has agreed to purchase Foulden Maar.
“Our goal has always been to ensure Foulden Maar is protected in perpetuity for future generations. To see the mining rights extinguished and agreement for Dunedin City Council to purchase the land is an incredible outcome for everyone involved in the campaign” says group spokesperson Shane Loader.
More than three years ago, Save Foulden Maar launched its campaign to protect the site from being mined by Plaman Resources. Together, the community launched a petition that attracted more than 11,000 signatures, hosted crowded public meetings, and drew support from notable figures such as Helen Clark.
This public pressure and push back was enough to put Plaman Resources into liquidation and the community’s focus quickly turned to getting the entirety of Foulden Maar into public ownership.
“Scientists have not been able to access Foulden Maar while it was under control of the receivers, so the first priority for Dunedin City Council needs to be getting scientists back on site” says Shane.
“Beyond that, we want to be part of any decisions on how Foulden Maar will be managed in the future. Our community already has a vision that includes a focus on enabling scientific research, avoiding high-impact tourism, and investing in the nearby Middlemarch Museum.”
“Today, we are all celebrating this major win and are grateful to both Dunedin City Council staff and the previous Mayor who fought so hard to make this happen.”
For further questions or comments, please contact:
Shane Loader
027 260 3039