South Island aeromagnetic survey update
NZP&M’s aeromagnetic survey project is progressing well with the Nelson/Marlborough section now completed.
The Southland/Otago survey has also stopped for winter. It will begin again on the 2016/17 summer, and begin surveying in North Otago.
The aim of the survey is to get better insights into the mineral potential of these areas. The data gathered will be available free to industry and valuable information for potential investors that can help sway investment decisions.
The surveys are part of an $8 million government investment in new data, announced in last year’s budget. Of this, $6 million was dedicated to these surveys, with a deadline for them to be completed by 2017.
The data gathered is also valuable to local authorities. Marlborough District Council and Venture Southland (representing Environment Southland, Southland District Council, Invercargill City Council and Gore District Council) have partnered with NZP&M on the project, which will assist them to map geological hazards (including fault lines); understand regional water resources; and gather information on climate, soil and geology.