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Sandmining economics don’t add up
Why would you fast-track a proposal where the benefits are vague and questionable? Bream Bay sandmining is not regionally or nationally significant, it has minimal economic value, and it purports to solve an urgent sand crisis that doesn’t even exist.
The economic justification is faulty; it’s based on irrelevant considerations. The concrete industry is not in crisis.
The question has to be asked whether the fast-track process conflates private financial benefit with public economic value.
Why should we allow a private company to extract sand for free while competitors who understand the unacceptable environmental impacts are investing heavily in alternatives?
We don’t need to resurrect and rush through these zombie projects when in the meantime smart competitors have invested in new technology to manufacture sand, eliminating environmental risks and sidelining the economic benefits claimed by the applicant.
These issues are not unique to Auckland. Globally, depletion and environmental effects have become unacceptable, and fortunately for us, alternatives have already been developed. If there were a crisis, help has already arrived!
Manufacturing sand or engineered sand is well-established globally. Plants have been installed and operating for decades, and ingenious and visionary Kiwi businesses have commissioned the machinery themselves alongside their aggregate quarry operations, another important component of concrete. The two supply chains will be merged, creating the opportunity for significant efficiency and environmental benefits. It’s a win-win.
We should hail these innovators as heroes, not ‘undermining’ them by rushing through a fast-track process based on fundamentally flawed justifications.
The Bream Bay community is very concerned about the fast-track process and the very real risk that relevant information won’t get an opportunity to be presented. These people are not hippies. People from all walks of life have signed the petition; many are successful business people who understand the need to balance growth with the environment. People are feeling disenfranchised and are becoming increasingly angry.
It’s frustrating and unnecessary; we can have sand for Auckland’s infrastructure and a pristine Bream Bay supporting Northland’s economic growth.
Bruce Copeland, Langs Beach
Great Walk guides free
I was very pleased to hear that Adele enjoyed her Kepler Track walk in January and that she appreciated our guide book (MF, Jan 27). We produced three in the Kiwi Footpaths series in the early 2000s – The Milford, The Routeburn/Greenstone and The Kepler. They are semi-waterproof, fold flat, map-based and in full colour, but are now out of print. However, I have a good number of residual copies of the latter two and a few of the Milford, which I am happy to provide gratis to any readers contemplating one of these Great Walks. Just give me a call on 027 458 6500.
Gordon Hosking, Mangawhai
