Lake Puketirini | |
---|---|
formerly Lake Rotoiti | |
Location | North Island |
Coordinates | 37°34′01″S 175°08′28″E / 37.567°S 175.141°E |
Type | former opencast mine |
Basin countries | New Zealand |
Max. length | 700 m (2,300 ft) |
Surface area | 54 hectares (130 acres) (open water) |
Max. depth | 64 metres (210 ft) |
Settlements | Huntly |
Lake Puketirini is a former opencast coal mine, immediately to the west of Huntly and east of the larger, but much shallower Lake Waahi, in the Waikato Region. It is circled by a walkway.
The area was initially known as Puketirini, which included Lake Rotoiti, [1] which was shown on maps until 1949, [2] though a 1944 map showed it as Westmere and drained. [3] The west shaft of Ralph Mine was at Puketirini and used for rescue after the 1914 explosion. [4] The site was identified as a potential coal mine in 1929 and land was bought by the government between 1940 and 1980. [1]
Mining began on part of the site in 1954, [5] or 1956. The initial mining used small excavators. [6] From 1984 the mine was extended to the north. [7] It was transferred to the Coal Corporation in 1986 and Weavers opencast coal mine excavated the area until 1993, using a bucketwheel excavator and conveyor belt to dig out 16,000,000 m3 (21,000,000 cu yd) of overburden and 2,300,000 t (2,500,000 tons) of coal, mostly for Glenbrook steelworks. [7] Much of the area around the lake is unconsolidated overburden. [8]
The shoreline was shaped by 1999 and the lake was full by 2005. [1] In December 2006, Waikato District Council acquired [1] part of the site for recreational use [8] from Solid Energy. [1]
A 2006 study found the lake was mesotrophic and that koi carp were present. [9]
A 1978 map shows a siding from the Glen Afton branch had been laid. [10] It was on that alignment that, in 2008, the 1939 Huntly railway station was moved, as part of plans to put the Waikato Coalfields Museum beside the lake. [11] In 2017 the museum was further discussed [12] and moved to the centre of Huntly. [13]
In 2000 the New Zealand School of Commercial Diver Training opened. [6] It now operates as the Subsea Training Centre. [14]