Pike River mine re-entry to take longer than expected

Wednesday, 6 June 2018

In April, Pike River Families Reference Group representatives Anna Osborne, left, and Sonya Rockhouse were able to walk 30 metres into the mine entrance tunnel.

Re-entry to the Pike River mine drift may take longer than expected.

Pike River Recovery Andrew Little told a parliamentary committee he expected re-entry into the West Coast mine – where 29 men died after an explosion in 2010 – to take longer than first thought.

Pike River Recovery Agency chief executive Dave Gawn says re-entry concept plan is being finalised.

Re-entry could start at the end of 2018, but would be completed after March 2019 – the original deadline he had set for the Pike River Recovery Agency.

Agency chief executive Dave Gawn said a re-entry concept plan was being finalised and would go to Little for approval by the end of the month.

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'When the agency was set up, timeframes and budgets were based on the information understood at the time,' he said.

'Over the intervening time, and particularly since our first four-day workshop with technical expert advisors at the start of May, we've been developing our understanding of what will be required, in terms of equipment and other resources.'

More detailed planning would give the agency 'a better fix' on the timeframes and resources needed, Gawn said.

'We have discussed the possibility that the project might take longer with [Little].'

Re-entry campaigner Anna Osborne, whose husband Milton was a Pike River victim, said the agency had kept her informed every step of the way.

'They have to source all the right equipment and reinstate the power generators. Everything was sold off by Solid Energy so it's a blank canvas up there,' she said.

The agency had to get a nitrogen plant, which had to be ordered from overseas.

'Safety comes first … I'd rather we get it right than rush it through. I have full faith it's going to happen. We have waited eight years a few more months doesn't matter,' Osborne said.

Meanwhile, the agency is looking for a senior project manager.

Chief operating officer Dinghy Pattinson said the manager would be responsible for project health and safety management.

'We are looking for someone with engineering, infrastructure development and project management qualifications, or significant industry experience. Their job will be to make sure our projects comply with regulatory requirements, are on time and within budget.'

The agency is also in the process of seeking a specialist supplier to both assist with developing detailed plans, and to undertake, if approved, the manned re-entry and recovery works. The supplier is also likely to undertake mine sealing and rehabilitation works at the completion of the project.

Pattinson said technical experts in ventilation and geotechnical engineering would gather again in Greymouth on June 13 and 14 to further refine concept plans for recovering the Pike River Mine drift access tunnel.

The upcoming two-day workshop will focus on planning more detail around boreholes.

'That requires input from both ventilation and geotech experts as it will include looking at location, size and quantity required, and also detailing the planning around second means of egress options,' he said.