Dunes ‘deflating’, court hears

The dune system between Mangawhai and Pakiri has ‘deflated’ over the past 50 years, a long-time resident told the sand mining appeals hearing in the Environment Court on August 3.

Former Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society chair Richard Bull said he had lived in the area for 82 years and witnessed a gradual deflation of the sand dunes right down the coast, especially in recent years. “We live right behind the sand dune and in 2001, we put in a new window that looks north-east,” he told the court. “You could see glimpses of the Pacific Ocean. Today, I can stand in the same place and see large areas of ocean with no trouble at all. My house hasn’t moved, I’ve only shrunk ... I’m only a layman, but I’ve watched this happen all my life.” ramp, and block views and sunlight. Sunrise Boulevard resident Tracey Brown says she is horrified by the plan, which shows two trees outside her property, near water main pipes and recently installed fibre optic cables.

He said entire dune system had disappeared. Bull was speaking at the appeal by McCallum Brothers Ltd (MBL) against the refusal last year to allow it to continue to dredge sand in the offshore coastal marine area off Pakiri and Mangawhai.

The plight and future of the critically endangered fairy tern, or tara iti, which breeds in the area, is central to the case of the 16 groups and individuals opposing the continuation of sand mining.

The court heard that the bird’s future was even more in danger now, following the extreme storms earlier this year, which led to the loss of five fairy terns, taking the total number of birds left to no more than 35.

The case was adjourned on August 3 and will resume at the Omaha Marae in Leigh for cultural evidence on August 21.

Before the adjournment, MBL’s consultant planner David Hay was criticised by Judges Jeff Smith and Aidan Warren for relying only on the assessment of MBL’s own cultural consultant, Tame Te Rangi, to decide that cultural effects wouldn’t be significant. Smith said Hay was obliged to consider all material facts, not least the concerns of Ngati Manuhiri. Hay said it had been a challenging application and he he had thought he could rely fully on Te Rangi’s assessment.

“The water main piping system in that spot has burst at least three times in the last five years,” she says. “We are concerned that the root system of any trees planted in this location will further damage an already extremely compromised and dated water main pipe system.

“The plans show that a plastic membrane will be installed to try and contain the root system. Tree roots can easily penetrate such a thin membrane and seek water, sending roots directly toward water pipes. Pohutukawa trees grow very large, their root systems are likely to damage water pipes, not only in front of our property, but all over the Snells Beach community. How is this a good plan?

“We pay huge amounts in rates and it is devastating to learn that the council is bullying the community into their decision without hearing what ratepayers actually want in their community.”

Snells resident Professor Simon J Owens FLS (Fellow of the Linnaen Society, the world’s oldest natural history society) is urging council to consider a more diverse range of trees.

“Planting a selection of natives would make for a more interesting landscape for residents such as differing winter shapes of trees and differing flowering and fruiting times,” he says.

“Planting one species will increase the likelihood of disease spread in what may well be a single genotype population, which would then kill other existing trees on the beach front.

“Surely this is an opportunity to plant a diverse group of species which will attract a greater diversity of birds, insects and other animals?”

Planting programme – council comments

Auckland Council area operations manager Geoff Pitman says the proposed work is part of a project approved and funded by the Rodney Local Board to deliver open space, streetscape and township improvements across Rodney. He says tree varieties have been selected with consideration of the streetscape they are going into, and with a view to enhance the environment without damaging pavements and lawns. “There is no firm date for the planting to occur,” he says. “We are currently engaging with key stakeholders on the proposed plan and feedback from the community will dictate if the plantings go ahead.” The total cost of the project for this year is $315,000, which will cover works in several townships across Rodney.