If approved, the sand mining operation will take place off the southern end of Northland's Bream Bay. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Whangārei district councillors have voted unanimously to oppose plans for fast-tracked sand mining at Northland's Bream Bay.
The proposal - which, if granted, could see 8 million cubic metres of sand removed over a 35-year period - could be lodged within days by Auckland company McCallum Brothers.
It was one of 149 projects listed in the government's Fast-track Approvals Bill, allowing it to bypass the often laborious RMA process.
However, any move to dredge sand off Bream Bay is staunchly opposed by local residents, who say it could have long-term environmental effects and accelerate coastal erosion.
Those concerns were highlighted by the position statement passed by 13 votes to 0 at Thursday's council meeting in Whangārei.
The vote on councillor David Baldwin's sand mining position statement was unanimous. Photo:
New councillor David Baldwin, who drafted the motion, said there was no certainty under fast-track rules that the council or local groups, such as the Bream Bay Guardians, would have a say.
He said the statement was a way of amplifying local voices, which were "overwhelmingly" opposed to sand mining, and making sure they were heard by the government and the consenting panel.
"This motion is our opportunity, as the community's representatives, to draw a clear line in our sand. It's a chance for us to declare that the health, wellbeing and economy of our district are paramount … We must not be taken for granted. This proposed large-scale offshore operation poses an existential threat to Bream Bay's fragile ecosystems."
Baldwin said the risks sand mining posed were "totally unnecessary".
A report from consultant engineers BECA, commissioned by the Bream Bay Guardians, had found no shortage of sand for industry or construction, and plenty of land-based, replenishable or manufactured alternatives to marine sand.
He said the proposal offered no jobs or economic benefits to Bream Bay or Northland, even though regional benefit was a requirement of the fast-track law.
The public gallery was packed with Bream Bay residents during Thursday's meeting. Photo: Supplied
The public gallery was packed during Thursday morning's meeting with Bream Bay residents, many holding banners declaring opposition to sand mining.
Councillor Phoenix Ruka said supporting Baldwin's motion was "a no brainer".
"Our hapū are in opposition (to sand mining), we have multiple groups with clear research and evidence about why it's not a good idea ... and you can't tell me that taking that much sand from Bream Bay wouldn't harm out taiao (environment)."
Councillor Matt Yovich said sand mining was "a huge issue" in his Bream Bay ward.
"You cannot find anyone at all who supports it," he said.
Mayor Ken Couper, who was based in Waipū, said the public's voice needed to be heard.
"We are quite clearly saying to the government that we are reflecting that voice, and urging them to take heed of it, and make sure they include the public. Our desire as a council is to amplify that voice."
The council's position statement said Bream Bay residents had "significant concerns" about the sand mining application, including the lack of robust analysis around local economic benefits, and the risks to ecology and shore stability.
The statement also called for stakeholder groups, notably the Bream Bay Guardians, to be included in the fast-track process.
Following the vote, Bream Bay Guardians member Mary Sinclair told RNZ she was "ecstatic".
"It's not often you get a council that votes unanimously for something - and we got unanimous support, which is just brilliant," she said.
"We have the Whangārei District Council totally behind us, and what that means is they will do whatever they can to support us to get in front of the fast-track panel making the decision," she said.
Fellow member Malcolm Morrison said it was now "highly likely" the group would be asked to make a submission, given its community support and wealth of evidence and expert reports.
Earlier Sinclair said the group was not anti-development - New Zealand needed infrastructure - but the "sand crisis" used to justify the proposal had no basis in reality.
Sand mining would not bring jobs or economic benefits to Bream Bay, but it could harm hospitality and tourism businesses by eroding the area's reputation as a pristine beachfront destination, she said.
McCallum Brothers did not wish to comment on the council's decision, but said the company would be lodging a resource consent application.
A substantive resource consent application has yet to be lodged, but parties involved in the process expected that to happen before Christmas.
The proposal, as it currently stands, is to use a suction dredge to remove up to 150,000 cubic metres of sand a year for an initial three years and up to 250,000 cubic metres a year for the next 32 years.
In total more than 8 million cubic metres of sand would be removed from a 17 square kilometre area of seabed.
At its closest point the dredging area would be 4.2km from shore in about 20m of water.
A study would be carried out after the first three years to check for any environmental effects.
However, Bream Bay Guardians told Thursday's meeting many effects would be long-term and not necessarily evident after three years.
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