While we realise that such a statement may not satisfy the bureaucratic nature of the process, Guardians of Pauatahanui Inlet neither directly support nor oppose the application to operate a quarry at Harris Road, but wish to make the following appeal to the hearing commissioners.
The Guardians concern is for the health of Pauatahanui Inlet. Quarry operations within the Inlet catchment clearly have the potential to discharge large quantities of sediment and other pollutants to streams and thus eventually to the Inlet and any such proposal must cause us concern. Further, there is an unfortunate history associated with this particular quarry site. Operations in the past have resulted in sediment release with consequent environmental damage to streams and Inlet. Part of the reason for this has been the failure to comply with provisions of resource consents. This history demands that especial care be given to the assessment of the current application.
The reason for our ambivalent attitude to the present application is that while it seems to provide a persuasive case that this time the quarry operation will not have adverse effects, we cannot afford to forget the past.
Therefore, we ask that if consent is granted:
- The Commissioners impose stringent conditions on the construction and maintenance of dams, sediment ponds, drains and other points of potential discharge to streams. We ask that the Commissioners be satisfied that these structures pose a very low risk of failure in heavy rainfall events, bearing in mind that we may well be entering a period when such events are more frequent and more severe than in the recent past.
- The Commissioners carefully consider the impact of high traffic levels on Harris Road and the potential for erosion of the road, and consequent damage to the immediate environment, under the combined effects of high usage and heavy rainfall.
- The Commissioners be satisfied that the most stringent monitoring regime for compliance with these conditions will be applied.
