Bream Bay sand mining fast-track: McCallum Brothers files main bid

A surfer on the Pakiri coast is dwarfed by McCallum Bros' sand mining vessel. Photo/ Doug Moores.

McCallum Brothers Ltd has taken the next step in the Fast-track approval process for its Bream Bay sand extraction proposal by lodging a substantive application.

A Fast-track spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that the substantive application had been received, but said it may not be publicly available for up to 15 working days.

“We publish application documents as soon as possible after relevant checks have been made, which include any redactions requested by the applicant, or required by us under the Official Information Act and Privacy Act,” the spokesperson said.

The timeframe for publication depends on the application size and complexity.

Once ready, the documents will be published at: Bream Bay Sand Extraction Project.

Fast‑track runs separately from standard resource consent processes.

The substantive application is the second and main phase of the Fast-track process when companies seek all necessary approvals, such as resource consents and other statutory permissions.

MBL’s project was listed for Fast-tracking after a group of experts considered an initial proposal, in which MBL stated it intended to extract (using a motorised trailing suction dredge) sand from a 17sq km area of seabed in Northland’s Bream Bay.

The proposal seeks approval to extract up to approximately 150,000cu m of sand per annum for an initial period of three years and up to approximately 250,000cu m per year thereafter.

Each substantive application is assessed by an independent expert panel, which can seek written comments, request further information and decide whether to hold a hearing. The panel then decides whether to approve or decline the project and may impose conditions.

Decisions can be appealed to the High Court, but only on points of law.

MBL was previously sand mining at Pakiri, in Auckland, but officially abandoned its efforts to continue sand mining there in August.

The company withdrew its High Court appeal, surrendered temporary consent, and agreed to cease all dredging operations immediately to end a decades-long dispute with Ngāti Manuhiri and local, environmental, and iwi opposition.

It is currently under investigation by the Department of Conservation after accusations it disturbed a protected native coral during dredging at Pakiri.

Its proposal to move into Bream Bay has already attracted community and environmental opposition because of claimed risks to sensitive marine habitats.

Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in journalism, most of which she spent court reporting in Gisborne and on the East Coast.