Limestone bridges, Waggon Creek,

Forest and Bird, Volume 18, Issue 4, 1 November 1987, Unnumbered Page

Limestone bridges, Waggon Creek,

ike many of the tributary streams which wend their way across the Paparoa limestone region, the sculpted bed of Waggon Creek provides enchantment beyond the reach of words in its continuous sequence of strange mossy shapes, delightful forest settings and typically erratic behaviour. It has a long stretch of underground flow, and about twenty other caves have been found along its banks, many containing important subfossil remains of moa bones, sharks’ teeth and whale skeletons. Unfortunately, however, the limestone sections of Waggon Creek have not been included in the new Paparoa National Park, although they are still within the Tiropahi Ecological Area. For a long term supply, New Zealand Cement Holdings have applied for a licence to mine the high quality limestone here for its Cape Foulwind works. The National Parks and Reserves Authority have agreed for the moment to compromise the park’s northern boundary to exclude the parts of Waggon Creek wanted for mining. Discussions with the company are continuing and it is hoped alternative sources of limestone can be found; otherwise this tranquil scene will no longer exist. Conservation groups are pressing to exclude mining from the following key areas: Nature, Scientific

and Marine Reserves, Forest Sanctuaries, Ecological and Wilderness Areas.