A Far North timber company has been ordered by the Environment Court to stop earthworks on a new depot.
In his decision released last week, Environment Court Judge Laurence Newhook ordered Mangonui ITM to stop earthworks on the planned site on State Highway 10 in Mangonui, 38km northeast of Kaitaia.
The company
had earlier applied to Far North District Council for resource consent to establish and operate a building supply depot on land at the junction of SH10 and Waterfront Dr.
The application included moving 12,000 cubic metres of cut and fill earthworks.
The company was granted the consent, with conditions, but the decision was appealed against by two Far North residents. This meant the work should not proceed until the appeal was heard.
However, the council's resource consents manager Pat Killalea told the court in its application that the company went ahead with the work.
The council went to the court seeking an enforcement order for the work to stop until the appeal had been heard.
The appeal was on the grounds that the development is a non-complying activity under the council's district plans.
In his decision Judge Newhook said he was satisfied that there was major risk of irreparable damage if the work continued.
Mangonui ITM owner Gary Beckham said earthworks stopped on December 23, when he received the Environment Court order.
Mr Beckham said he would go back to the court on Wednesday seeking a variation to the order.
