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MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER
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Sand Wars goes to the Environment CourtENVIRONMENT / OPINION KEN RAYWARD Save Our Sands (SOS)
21 Nov, 2022
The recent announcement following the commissioners hearing where McCallum Brothers were granted sand mining consent for the mid-shore (10-15m depth) while the near-shore (5m depth) and far-shore (25m depth) were declined, was both surprising and concerning. With the three locations running parallel to each other and along the beaches, how identifying the middle location as having different environmental, cultural and economic characteristics to the two areas on either side is difficult to comprehend. The consent approval does come with conditions, which on the face of it should provide some reassurances, but in reality these only serve to heighten the concerns, particularly for the Mangawhai community. The major concern is the condition that the mining can only be conducted north of Te Arai point, for a length of 10 kilometres. This is welcome news for our long-suffering Pakiri neighbours but bad news for Mangawhai as it will be the focus for high-impact mining which will have devastating impacts on our ocean beaches and wonderful harbour, our sand dunes and sandspit, as well as the marine and seabird life which makes this area so magical. The Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society (MHRS) strongly supported an application led by The Friends Of Pakiri for the three mining consents to be heard at the one Environment Court hearing and this initiative has been successful. This means members of the Save Our Sand (SOS) collaboration will individually, but unitedly, be opposing the granting of the mid-shore consent application and defending the refusal of consents for the near-shore and far-shore, which McCallum Bros are challenging. The reasons for the far-shore application being declined were based on environmental and cultural concerns. Te Uri o Hau have since established an arrangement with McCallum Bros which reduced cultural concerns, and this was a key factor in the mid-shore application being approved. However, a just announced decision by Ngati Manuhiri advises they will oppose the granting of the mid-shore consent, based on the grounds that sand mining at (and northwards of) Te Arai Point fails to recognise that this is a culturally significant area situated in the rohe of Ngati Manuhiri, as identified in their deed of settlement. The approval of this consent allows significant cultural harm to Ngati Manuhiri values. This is a well-considered decision and all at Ngati Manuhiri are to be commended for this action. It can be expected that McCallum Bros, in seeking to overturn the declined far-shore and near-shore applications, will include the condition that all mining will only be conducted north of Te Arai. This will create an irreversible environmental impact that time will not be able to remedy. What could this look like in the future? Firstly, we need to look to our past. The last time our harbour was under direct mining attack, local property prices dropped by over 50 percent. If Mangawhai did not have its iconic sandspit there would be no safe harbour for all to enjoy; If Mangawhai’s largest employer, the Tara Iti golf and housing development (a jewel in the Mangawhai community) was made inoperable due to the erosion of the beaches and sandspit it borders; If insurance companies refuse or severely penalise coastal home owners and businesses; If our surf beaches become too dangerous to swim in; If we lost our unique fairy tern and the ten other endangered birds that rely on the habitat our sandspit provides; If the impact of global warming increases the ocean height levels, while sand mining lowers our coastal defences – the Mangawhai as we now know it will never be known again. We are not alone with these concerns. This year the United Nations Environmental Program produced a Sand and Sustainability Report which included the following commentaries:
This from the recognised leading voice in sustainable environment management, which also includes recommending the ceasing of sand extraction from ‘active’ locations, namely coastal and river systems and focusing on ‘inactive’ locations being land-based areas. Sadly, New Zealand is one of the last remaining countries that still allows near-shore coastal sand mining, a situation nobody should be proud of. It can only be hoped the Environment Court will be supportive of sustainable environmental practices, which if not recognised in their decisions, the future of Mangawhai will not be the future we all wish for. The Environment Court hearing is in May 2023. There will be a need for community support to ensure funding is sufficient to mount a winning campaign. Details on this will go out to our community in the new year. Regrettably Kaipara District Council have advised the MHRS that the council is not in a position to provide support for Mangawhai at the upcoming Environment Court hearing. This comes as a great concern and dismay as they have been very supportive in the past. Their reasoning is they have a number of other priorities, including a District Plan review. Does this council not appreciate there may not be a district to plan for if they abdicate their responsibilities in supporting their Mangawhai community in the battle to stop sand mining?
Mid-Te Arai beach at the Pacific Road end, a cause for an SOS says Ken Rayward (pictured). Ken says the beach was already in a fragile state from ongoing overmining and storm activities and while the storm created this new damage, McCallum Bros sand dredge was operating near-shore, capturing beach sand before it settled on the ocean floor. The sand taken by storm action from our beaches, fills the holes created by the sand miners – there is not enough left to replenish our beaches. PHOTO/JULIA WADE
Sadly, New Zealand is one of the last remaining countries that still allows near-shore coastal sand mining, a situation nobody should be proud of. |
To the residents of Mangawhai: Your lifestyle and livelihoods are under attack!
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