Projects

The following is a copy of an article that was published in the December/January issue of the Whangarei Heads Newsletter.

I want to draw attention to the threat of major long-term harm to our local marine environment. The Bream Bay Sand Extraction Project is one of 11 selected for fast tracking in Northland under new legislation which is likely to become law before Christmas. The Northland Fast Track Projects have now been selected by an Advisory Group who prioritised the total of 384 project submissions received. The Government Advisory Group gave The Bream Bay Sand Extraction Project a Low Priority by sector. This was the lowest ranking! Yet it was selected to be one of the 149 successful projects. 

What are the next Steps in the Fast Track Process?
A selection of Expert Panels with normally four members will be organised to consider and make the final decisions on the approvals sought. There will be limited public participation or consultation on the projects. This is extremely concerning because it means that the people of Whangarei will have minimal input in the decision-making process that directly affects them. 

What do we know about the Bream Bay Sand Extraction Project?
There is currently limited information publicly released. If successful McCallum Brothers Limited will have the right to extract up to 250,000 cubic metres, annually for 35 years which equates to almost 9 million cubic metres. Trailers you hire for home use hold up to ½ a cubic metre so visualise 18 million trailer loads of sand extracted from Bream Bay. 

Why did McCallum Brothers choose to come to Bream Bay to mine sand?
McCallum Brothers had consents for 3 areas all in relatively shallow water around Pakiri, which have been either surrendered or declined. They have appealed the Environment Court’s decision to the High Court.  During this time sand mining has been allowed to continue on a temporary basis.

The Court said evidence about the ecological effects of the mining provided by the company had been “patchy”, “inconclusive” and even “incorrect” in the past. It also found the effect on mana whenua could not be mitigated.

The company also applied for a Pakiri consent through the Fast-Track legislation, which could allow projects rejected by courts to proceed but it did not make the final list of 149 projects selected by Cabinet. It may still be selected in the future.

At the same time, they decided to also try sand mining somewhere else where they probably hoped for weaker opposition. Thus the move north out of Auckland Council jurisdiction into the Whangarei District, with the Bream Bay application..

What will our Bream Bay sand be used for?
The sand will be shipped to Auckland to replenish their beaches or to be used to make concrete primarily for Auckland construction projects. Therefore, there appears to be negligible economic benefit to Whangarei. 

What is the Environmental Impact of the mining?
Natalie Jessup, general manager of Tāngaro Tuia te Ora-Endangered Species Foundation, said the potential fast-tracking of sand mining was deeply disappointing. “This is a heart-breaking blow for Aotearoa’s coastline. Bream Bay, like Mangawhai and Pākiri, is home to some of our most vulnerable species, including the critically endangered tara iti (New Zealand fairy tern). Approving sand mining here is not only environmentally destructive but a betrayal of the communities who have fought to protect these areas for decades.” She is also concerned about how the sand extraction could impact the sensitive ecosystem. “Sand mining completely destroys the seafloor. They hoover up all the sand, which means that everything living on the seafloor gets destroyed: it damages scallop beds and fish no longer have food sources. “It destroys fishing and also higher up the food chain, it affects the whole ecosystem for whales and seabirds too.” Research shows that it also causes underwater noise pollution and sedimentation affects water quality. In 2019 and 2020 Friends of Pākiri Beach commissioned two scans of the seabed. They showed huge trenches, several kilometres long and 20m wide gouged in the seabed from the mining. Near shore sand mining can contribute to erosion of sand dunes, which can worsen the effects of climate change.  We’re facing more flooding and erosion due to climate change, so sand mining is the last thing we should be doing. “For east coast beaches, [sand erosion] figures generally vary between the potential for 20 metres to 50 metres erosion with one metre sea level rise and we’re expecting one or two metres as a minimum. So, the last thing you want to be doing is sucking sand out of it.”   Jim Dahm, Coastal Scientist

Is the Bream Bay Sand Mining Essential?
Jessup said sand was not a critical mineral, because it was neither rare nor facing supply shortages, so should not be included in the fast-track list.

Jessup agrees that while sand is needed for construction, there are viable alternative sources, including extraction from the Kaipara Harbour where sand is being naturally replenished. 

What about Whangarei Fishers?
They have a right to be furious. They have been making sacrifices with the acceptance of the closing of shellfish banks and scallop areas and are supportive of our marine reserves. To literally suck the life from such a treasured local inshore fishing area should be strongly opposed. It is a huge insult to all fishers in Northland and denies their basic right to have their views considered in a democratic way.

Are there Alternatives to Coastal Sand Mining?
Yes, Kaipara Limited’s Brookby Quarry in East Auckland aims to produce 300,000 tonnes of sand a year. Depending on demand, it has plans for a second stage. Together, that would produce up to 45% of the sand needed for the Auckland market. Innovative crushing and air screening technology is at the heart of Kayasand engineering plants. Originally developed because of a ban on dredging in Japan, it provides a better way to obtain sand for use in concrete. Concrete in a recent trial proved to be 24% stronger and used 10% less cement. 

I’m concerned. What can I do?
Share this information and your concerns with friends, family, neighbours and sign the petition against the Bream Bay sand mining: 
www.endangeredspecies.org.nz/sign-petition-stop-sandmining-bream-bay
Email Shane Reti MP for Whangarei Shane.reti@parliament.govt.nz

Tony Morgan (local resident)