People living on a sweep of beach on the east coast north of Auckland are preparing for what they call a "David vs Goliath" battle to protect its soft white sand.
People attending the meeting make their feelings clear. Photo: Save Our Sand Mangawhai Pakiri/ Elevated Media
Hundreds have gathered in opposition to two more resource consent renewals filed by sandmining company McCallum Bros, which has been operating off Pakiri Beach for more than 75 years.
The event on Sunday was held about 20km north at Mangawhai Beach where the company's dredge was out of sight.
However, protesters said they were concerned its impacts had become visible right along the coast.
"We've lost a lot of our sand. The sand dunes have had a big slice taken out of them and there's a lot of rocks being exposed at the water's edge. It would be interesting to know if there's a scientific explanation connecting the two things - the sandmining and the local conditions," said long-time Mangawhai local Ray Greening.
Until that was fully understood, he believed the sandmining should be paused: "We can't wait until it's too late."
One resident wants a pause on sandmining until its impact is fully understood. Photo: Save Our Sand Mangawhai Pakiri/ Elevated Media
McCallum Bros refutes its sandmining harms the environment, claiming Pakiri sand is plentiful and "one of the most sustainable sources available".
The company also argues it is much needed in Auckland, where it is churned into concrete to power major construction projects, and to top up inner-city beaches and sports turfs.
But those in opposition had a win earlier this year, when Auckland Council declined McCallum Bros' renewal of one of its three consents.
It had applied to take another two million cubic metres of sand from the far shore between March 2023 to March 2043.
Commissioners found the "past and cumulative effects" of sandmining on the cultural landscape and seascape were "significant and adverse".
"I'd describe it as winning the unwinnable," protest organiser Ken Rayward said.
"We were able to prove our concerns - that the damage that had been done to the seabed and resultingly the coastline [was] significant. The commissioners and Auckland Council saw it that way as well."
McCallum Bros has been operating off Pakiri Beach (pictured) for more than 75 years. Photo: Marika Khabazi/RNZ
However, McCallum Bros is appealing that decision and is now seeking to renew its mid-shore and near-shore resource consents.
Waipu resident Paul Smith was gearing up for a fight.
"I don't believe McCallums - that you need this sand at all. Nor does the concrete industry," he said.
That was a reference to the argument from McCallum Bros that the sand has to come from somewhere, or else the construction market will suffer.
The other main consented source of sand for Auckland concrete is the Kaipara Harbour on Northland's West Coast - and the mayor who oversees both coasts is Kaipara Mayor Jason Smith.
At the beach meeting on Sunday he explained the solution was simple: leave the east coast alone, and sandmine solely in the west.
He believed west coast sand was much more likely to keep "rolling in from Australia" and being replenished, which did not appear to be the case at Pakiri.
"Sustainable in my simple definition is the ability to do what you're doing, forever. That's not possible with the current sand mining in the current location on Mangawhai-Pakiri because the sand is a finite resource."
Photo: Save Our Sand Mangawhai Pakiri/ Elevated Media
The counter-argument from McCallum Bros is that would cost the environment in other ways, because it would have to be taken to Auckland by truck, rather than barge.
However, that is likely to be discussed in the upcoming resource consent renewal application hearings, which start on 27 July and are expected to take 11 days.
Rayward will be keeping a close eye on the proceedings with one goal in mind.
"I'd like to see the dredge advertised on Trade Me one day, as not required by its owners any further."