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Lake in New Zealand From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Lake Puketirini | |
---|---|
formerly Lake Rotoiti | |
![]() Lake Puketirini and Hakarimata Range. The old railway station and diving school vessel are across the lake | |
Location | North Island |
Coordinates | 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 |
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]
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