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The Department of Conservation is seeking information after four people were seen inside a restricted heritage area at the historic Banbury Mine site near Denniston.
DOC says the group, made up of one woman and three men, was captured on CCTV footage on April 3 entering an off-limits section of the site, with one man identifiable by a distinctive cowboy hat.
Heritage site closed to public
DOC Westport principal ranger biodiversity Sean Judd says the area is fenced off to protect both visitors and historic structures.
“They’ve gone well past a fence and into an area where they shouldn’t be.”
The Banbury Mine site forms part of the wider Denniston heritage area, a popular attraction for visitors exploring the Buller District and learning about the region’s coal mining history.
The site includes remnants of mining infrastructure linked to the famous Denniston Incline, which operated from the 1880s until the mine closed in 1967.
Safety concerns highlighted
Sean says DOC’s primary concern is understanding how the group entered the restricted area.
“There’s no apparent damage, and nothing’s been taken, but we certainly don’t condone these people entering the site.”
He says the closure is in place because of significant safety risks associated with ageing structures and exposed drops within the heritage site.
“With heritage comes risk – the Banbury Mine, like many old mining sites, has structures at various levels of decay which have been closed off to ensure visitors are safe and are not injured.”
Reminder for visitors
DOC says the incident highlights the importance of respecting closures and safety barriers at conservation and heritage sites.
Sean says most visitors enjoy conservation areas responsibly, but unauthorised access can place both people and heritage assets at risk.
Anyone with information about the group is being asked to contact DOC and quote case CLE-11613.
