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A lengthy hearing into two applications by McCallum Brothers to renew resource consents for sand mining between Pakiri and Mangawhai opened in Warkworth last week.
Consultant planner for Auckland Council Colin Hopkins is recommending that, subject to new or contrary evidence presented at the hearing, both applications be refused.
The Avondale-based aggregate company wants to continue to extract sand from the seabed, both inshore at five metres and mid-shore at 15 metres, using a trailer suction dredge.
Five independent commissioners are conducting the hearing, which is taking place mainly at Warkworth Town Hall, but also with sessions at Omaha Marae, Pakiri Hall and the old Masonic Hall in Warkworth.
The hearings panel is made up of chair Richard Blakey and Robert Scott, both of whom are planners; marine and environmental ecologist Dr Sharon De Luca; and independent hearings commissioner and Waitangi and local government specialist Basil Morrison.
In his application reports, Hopkins says at least 2100 submissions have been made, more than 1560 of which are against the applications and around 520 in support.
“The submissions in support generally consider that the resource is valuable for the construction industry and will provide positive social and economic benefits,” he says. “The submissions in opposition generally consider that the application should be declined due to the adverse effects associated with the activity on coastal processes, ecology and effects on recreational activities.”
An earlier application by McCallum Bros to renew an offshore extraction consent was declined by an earlier hearings panel in May. The company has since lodged an appeal against that decision in the Environment Court.
