Credits: Colin Williscroft - Mon, 21 Nov 2022 - Mangawhai Focus
Appeals against three separate consent decisions on whether McCallum Bros can continue to extract sand off Pākiri Beach are to be bundled together and heard by the Environment Court at the same time next year.
Sand erosion of Pakiri Beach
Judge Jeff Smith will hear the appeals at proceedings set down to begin in mid-May.
McCallum Bros is appealing the decision to decline its consent application to extract sand in in-shore and far-shore applications, while its opponents will appeal against the company being granted a mid-shore proposal.
Applications
Last month an Auckland Council hearings panel granted consent for the mid-shore proposal, albeit on much tighter conditions than initially proposed by McCallum, or the more limited amended proposal the company made.
An application for an in-shore application, made at the same time, was declined.
Earlier this year a different hearings panel declined an application by McCallum for a proposal in deeper water further from the beach. McCallum appealed that decision, which was going to be heard by the Environment Court in February until all parties agreed that it made sense for all the appeals to be heard together.
Fresh sand collapses at Pakiri Beach - photo Greg Jenks
Common sense
The Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society has lodged an appeal against the granting of the mid-shore consent, as well as lodging notice defending the in-shore and far-shore decisions.
Spokesperson Ken Rayward says hearing the appeals together is common sense.
“It allows for cumulative effects to be fully examined; the introduction of scientific evidence that is common across all three locations, from seabed to coastline, including marine and seabird impacts.”
He says approval of the mid-shore proposal on the condition that extraction only occur north of Te Arai Point is of significant concern as its focus will directly affect the sand spit and dunes that provide the safe harbour estuary.
“The MHRS will have a comprehensive set of supportive scientific environmental data related to the spit, and it will continue to provide evidence that supports their submission that there are other supply options, not just the Kaipara, but other land-based supply areas that offer technically suitable, market-competitive and sustainable product.”
He says the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust are leading the groups appealing the mid-shore consent.
Community event to Save Our Sands
Momentum
Friends of Pākiri Beach spokesperson Damon Clapshaw says the group is encouraged by the far-shore and in-shore decisions.
Resource
“To have won decisions relating to the inner most and outer most areas, and as representing all of McCallum’s current dredging activities, is a win for the environment and the Mangawhai Pākiri embayment and its local communities and iwi.
“We hope to build on this momentum and new science, which is revealing the true reality of the dredging and its environmental effects.”
He says proposed dredging is unsustainable and other sources and substitutes exist.
“Furthermore, procurement processes, end buyers and users will also seek sustainable and non-contentious supply sources.”
Other parties
Inside Resources contacted the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust and McCallum Bros for comment on the appeals.
The trust was considering its response at the time of writing, while McCallum Bros did not want to comment while the appeals process is underway.