ARC Recommends Refusal Of Resource Consent To Extract Sand From Pakiri

1 April 2005

A special meeting of the Auckland Regional Council Environmental Management Committee has recommended that the Minister of Conservation refuse two resource consent applications to extract sand from Mangawhai - Pakiri.

McCallum Bros Ltd and Sea Tow Ltd applied for resource consents to extract a combined amount of 76,000m3 of sand every year for 20 years.

ARC Environment Management Chair, Dianne Glenn says the Commissioners heard extensive evidence about the natural and physical environment where the proposed extraction would take place, and the adverse effects the proposals would have on that environment.

“Having heard the evidence and visited the area, we are of the view that preserving and protecting the Mangawhai-Pakiri coastal environment better promotes the sustainable management of natural and physical resources than allowing the sand extraction activities,” she says.

“The coastal environment surrounding the proposed extraction sites has significant natural, physical, cultural, amenity and landscape values, including the habitat of two threatened bird species, the New Zealand Fairy Tern, and the New Zealand Dotteral.”

Much of the evidence about the actual and potential effects of the proposed extraction were from experts, the applicants, local residents, Iwi, users of the area, community groups, Friends of Pakiri Beach, University of Auckland, Rodney District Council, Northland Regional Council, and the Department of Conservation.

A total of 678 submissions were received. 658 opposed the application and 20 supported it.

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