The Government is chipping in almost $240,000 to help assess environmental contamination at two former Coromandel gold mines.

It will help with detailed site investigations to determine the levels of arsenic and cyanide left from historic gold extraction at the former Tokatea and Victoria Battery Mines.

Both mines are now on public conservation land.

The projects will be led by the Department of Conservation in a joint partnership with Waikato Regional Council, says Environment Minister David Parker.

The money is from the Ministry for the Environment Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund.

The Victoria Battery site, in the Karangahake Gorge, is getting $192,254, equal to DOC's funding input, while the Tokatea site's getting $42,900. MfE is also contributing to staff costs.

Mining during the Victoria Battery era involved processing that concentrated metals and used chemicals with the potential to leave historic contamination, says DOC's Tauranga operations manager Jeff Millham.

The site contains possible mercury, hydrocarbons, and heavy metal contamination.

These contaminants are a problem when they occur at levels which may affect human health or the environment.

Currently, the risk to the public from the site is considered low if there is no soil disturbance.

”The Victoria Battery project is to determine the level and extent of the risk to the public and the environment. DOC is working together with iwi and [the regional council] to lead and deliver the project,” says Millham.

'DOC will need to apply for new funding once detailed site investigations are completed, and we understand what contamination is at the site.”

Investigation work to determine future management options for the site is planned to begin shortly and will take about 10 months to complete.

'This work will provide information to review management and remediation options and input into the final remedial work, if required.

'This process will take a few years due to complexity of the work and resources required.”

Meanwhile, the Tokatea site is also a historic disused mining location and potential contamination is similar to the Victoria Battery.

The approach and work required by DOC is also similar, but to a lesser extent, says DOC's Coromandel operations manager (Tokatea) Nick Kelly.

-Stephan Ward/Stuff.