Sand mining resource consent hearings begin

KEN RAYWARD

Against the background of a Radio New Zealand documentary on the state of the global sand industry being broadcast at the same time – describing it as one in turmoil as a result of rapidly diminishing stocks, with sand mafia elements in order to secure supply of this dwindling resource – the resource consent sand mining hearing for Kaipara Limited commenced on Wednesday May 5 in the Warkworth Town Hall. The proceedings will continue in different locations for the next eight days.

The first two days of the hearing are for the applicant, Kaipara Limited, to make their submission, supported by a line-up of expert witnesses from various environmental fields.

A point of interest arising from the opening address presented by the counsel for Kaipara Limited, Morgan Slyfield, was Kaipara’s requirement that the Hearing Panel of four were not to take into consideration the allegations of non-compliance breaches that were to be made by some submitters during the hearing, stating the hearing is not the forum for enforcing Kaipara’s current consent. It is apparent that other submitters place great weight in identifying territorial and operational breaches and will be providing evidence to support these allegations. It would be unthinkable that the operational integrity of an applicant for a 20 year resource consent should not be challenged in order for the correct granting decision to be made.

Whilst this is a hearing for the Kaipara mining consent, the hearing panel did question Kaipara on their consideration of the combined effects of their consented activity, if successful, and the two additional consents that their own contractor, McCallum Brothers, if all were to be operating. Kaipara responded that their expert witnesses would address all of the relevant potential effects and provide comfort that potential adverse effects will be remedied or mitigated.

An expert witness for Kaipara in the afternoon provided support to Kaipara’s application in his field of Landscape And Visual, addressing the impact of the dredge visually when operating. His conclusion was, taking into account the dredge conducted it’s mining operations during darkness there was minimal visual pollution from the activities. However under questioning from the hearing panel, he confirmed he has never seen the dredge on the water, day time or night time. And when asked by the hearing panel if a second barge was brought into operation during the 20 year life of the consent, and they operated in tandem even day and night, how would that effect his current report? He responded that it would be changed completely under those circumstances.

Steve Riddell, head of Kaipara Limited, also presented, during which he challenged the concerns yet to be raised by other submitters of Kaipara operating outside of their permitted zone. He stated he has discussed this with McCallum, and felt it was best left for him to

address during the McCallum presentation. Separately he did say if there was ever a case of wrongdoing, Kaipara being the consent holder would be the responsible party.

Riddell did raise the subject of the trench identified recently by Damon Clapshaw in his submission yet to be heard. In this submission an expert witness, Dr Shaw Mead, provides irrefutable evidence of the existence of this trench, and its potential effects on the sea bed environment, which up until very recently Kaipara denied any knowledge of.

With this knowledge initiated by Damon Clapshaw, Kaipara have now verified that there is a swale as they describe it, running some 4.1 kilometres parallel to the Pakiri beach, and confirmed that this trench/swale was caused by continuous one location mining undertaken by the current mining dredge as well as its earlier dredge.

Steve Riddell advised with this new awareness they have ceased all mining in the area and will maintain this status until scientific advice confirms the trench/swale has been naturally refilled.

Without Damon Clapshaw and The Friends Of Pakiri Beach identifying this created environmental hazard, mining would have continued at this location, compounding further it’s detrimental effects to the sea bed. The question needs to be asked: If Kaipara Limited conducted impact testing in line with their current consent requirements, why was this swale never identified and reported?

Experts have verified there is a swale, or trench, running some 4.1km parallel to the Pakiri beach, caused by continuous one location mining undertaken by the current and previous dredge.