February | 2012 | Friends of Blackhead

Brief History

In 1985 Fulton Hogan had plans to mine the centre of the Blackhead headland site to 50 metres below sea level and then blast an opening into the ocean creating a safe boat harbour. Destroying the headland completely.
The Friends of Blackhead achieved with negotiations with the Department of Conservation and Fulton Hogan the placement of a Covenant over an area of the headland in 1991 to stop the quarry spill destroying the rare basalt rock formations, the Roman Baths and Dock.

A condition of the covenant was that the rubble covering the rock formations was cleared away, and further spill be redirected away from the protected covenant areas. After 18 years, this has not been carried out.

To ensure the covenant conditions are fulfilled a public campaign has been launched to rally support through the reformation of the Friends of Blackhead, and to negotiate again with Blackhead Quarries and DOC to restore the headland treasures for the public to once again enjoy.

February 2012 from the Air

Posted on February 28, 2012 by admin

Blackhead Headland a volcanic outcrop has been mined for its rock for road construction since the 1930’s, once a rounded picturesque headland, its has now lost more than half its volume. A covenant placed upon it in 1991 protects the end of the headland and the rare rock formations of the Roman Baths and Docks.. similar in structure and value as the Giants Causeway in Ireland. here is a flyover of the headland in February 2012 along with footage from the land. Filmed by Nic Reeves of phoam.co.nz.