Sandmining hearings rescheduled after Covid delay

KEN RAYWARD/MHRS MEMBER

With a delay in court hearings due to Covid, the battle to protect our beaches, sandspit and estuary against the irreversible coastal damage caused by sand mining is happening now, with three mining consent applications set to be heard by commissioners over the coming months, starting on May 3.

The outcome of these three hearings will determine the immediate and long-term future of the Mangawhai to Pakiri regions, both in an environmental capacity as well as an economic one, with both set to be detrimentally impacted if even one of the three resource consents is granted.

No coastline in the world could withstand the irreversible damage that would occur if all three were to be granted.

While public sentiment and science strongly supports active opposition to not allow these consents to be granted, history has shown that it is unwise to take for granted that even the combined strength of these ingredients will win the day when there is so much financial gain involved for the mining operators, should they be successful.

It is hard to comprehend that New Zealand is the only country in the developed world that allows close-to-shore sand mining, and while it is a lawful option for sand miners to pursue, it is also a community’s lawful option to oppose it to the highest level.

The first consent application to be heard by commissioners in early May is from Kaipara Limited, for a far shore (25 metres) resource consent. The actual mining is done under contract by McCallum Brothers, an Auckland based company, who are also seeking approval for the other two consent requests, one for near shore (5 metres) the second for far shore.

McCallum Brothers are leading the initiative on all three consent applications and are basing their requests on them being able to maintain their role as a major supplier of sand for cement production, an essential product in supporting the growing Auckland construction industry.

It was this position that enabled them to secure their current consents some 14 years ago, and many thought the decision would go against the consents being approved, but it did not happen.

In that 14 years much has changed, scientific data identifying the impacts of mining on our coastline, its marine life, bird habitats and now global warming are available. So is a more environmentally aware community with a united opposition voice and a legal arena to present their concerns.

Recognition of the greater environmental awareness being harnessed into action is on display around us. The formation of the Hauraki Gulf Forum, championed by Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, seeking to protect the gulf’s sea floor and environs from further damage, the New Zealand Maori party tabling a private members bill seeking to prohibit all seabed mining around New Zealand, and closer to home, in a recent community survey conducted by the Mangawhai Matters group, protecting the estuary topped the list of priorities, with 90 per cent of respondents in agreement that protecting the marine environment was number one in managing our future.

The first hearing is now closed for submissions with a number of individuals and groups taking the opportunity to speak at the first hearing. These statements are available now in the public

arena and they are as diverse as they are compelling in their content, with over 600 submissions opposing the consent approvals against five in favour.

As one-sided as this argument may seem, McCallums will mount a strong ‘economy versus environment’ case to support their requests, and it will not be without its supporters.

Following this first hearing McCallum Brothers are expected to formally lodge their two mining consent applications, one near shore and one far shore. Their near shore application is as a continuance of their current consent and they are trying to have this proceed without public notification which, given the level of public opposition, it is hoped won’t be provided.

The public will have the opportunity to voice opposition to each of these submissions, and have representations at the following hearings, possibly to be held by June 2021.

How can I help?
The ‘Stop Sand Mining - Save Our Beaches’ movement has created a wave of community awareness with the most asked question being ‘How can I help?’ The road ahead will require engaging qualified legal representation to fully oppose the three resource consent applications, and to enable the funding of this the Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society is setting up a site for donations so our Mangawhai community can provide the highest level of opposition to ensure the consents are rejected.

Details will be announced this week on the MHRS website, stopsandmining.co.nz, and facebook.

Greater awareness about the impacts of industry on our environment, by both the public and the courts, means there is some hope local shorelines can be protected from sand mining. PHOTO/JULIA WADE

It is hard to comprehend that New Zealand is the only country in the developed world that allows close-to-shore sand mining.