High Court appeals over marine dumping off Auckland's Great Barrier Island
Tuesday, 12 March 2019
Two appeals to the High Court in Wellington have been lodged against the approval of sediment dumping off Great Barrier Island.
In February, the Environment Protection Authority gave Coastal Resources Ltd (CRL) permission to increase the amount of sediment it dumps from 50,000 cubic metres to 250,000 cubic metres annually for 35 years.
Now, both the Society for the Protection of Aotea Community & Ecology and Great Barrier Islander Kelly Klink, of iwi Ngāti Rehua-Ngātiwai ki Aotea, have lodged appeals against the resource consent in the High Court.
Klink's iwi said it has a significant and undeniable interest in the area and claim the proposed activity would have an 'irreversible impact' on the marine environment.
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She also said there was a lack of consultation with iwi on the island, who only found out about the resource consent application on the internet.
Klink said the Great Barrier Island community of about 1000 people were right behind the iwi in its appeal against the consent.
'They are just as disgusted as we are,' she said.
'It's just terrible here. They are right in behind us.'
Klink said the dumped material would disrupt fishing grounds, which most of the people on the island relied on as a food source and for income.
She said the dumping was happening 'right on the reef' and would blow back onto other wāhi tapu (sacred places).
In the decision to grant consent, EPA committee members said the potential adverse effects the sediment may cause would be restricted to the northern disposal area.
They also said the proposed operational procedures, mitigation measures and conditions would ensure the biological diversity of marine species, ecosystems and processes in the Hauraki Gulf.
That would mean the wider coastal and offshore environment would be protected.
The committee said CRL was required to adhere to a number of other rules relating to health and safety and environmental protection.
'These will further protect the environment and minimise any potential for adverse effects from the disposal activity.'