Mill go-ahead appals Coromandel beach locals

By AINSLEY THOMSON

Coromandel Peninsula locals and conservation groups have vowed to fight a controversial $30 million sawmill which was yesterday granted approval.

International logging firm Blue Mountain Lumber was given resource consent to develop a new sawmill near the beach settlement of Whangapoua.

Building of the mill, which will employ about 40 people, is scheduled to begin next summer.

But the Whangapoua Environmental Protection Society said it would almost certainly appeal the decision to the Environment Court.

Since Blue Mountain Lumber first bought the land for the mill in 2002, there has been strong opposition from locals, bach owners and conservation groups.

At the resource consent hearing the two authorities involved, Environment Waikato and Thames-Coromandel District Council, received 308 written submissions against the plan and 28 in favour.

Among the opposition were submissions from the Department of Conservation and Forest and Bird.

The mill will be built on a 10ha site between the pristine Whangapoua Harbour and the landmark Castle Rock.

One of the main objections to the mill is the impact it will have on the landscape - which is considered to be of outstanding value - and the environmental impact it will have on the harbour.

Other concerns include the effect logging trucks will have on the winding State Highway 25 and the effects on air quality and on tourism.

However, Environment Waikato and Thames Coromandel District Council decided the mill would have minor harmful effects on the environment and that it was consistent with the Resource Management Act.

Environment Waikato says if the sawmill is properly managed the effects on water quality will be minor.

A Whangapoua Environmental Protection Society spokesman, Paul Bibby, said he was shocked at the decision. "With all the evidence given at the hearing I couldn't see any way at all that they would actually pass it and let it go ahead."

Mr Bibby said once the organisation's technical experts had examined the ruling, a decision would be made about whether to appeal. "I would be very surprised if we didn't appeal it."

He said protests were also a possibility. "Not at this stage because we haven't played all our cards yet. But people are threatening all sorts of activity."

A Forest and Bird spokeswoman for the upper Coromandel, Megan Graeme, said the organisation would look into appealing against the decision. "Everyone is really disappointed. I actually thought the councils would listen to the people over this one."

The Department of Conservation said it was examining the ruling and would make a comment later.

Blue Mountain Lumber spokesman Matt Hitchings said the company was relieved it had been given the go-ahead on a project that had so far taken two years. "It is a good project for the area. There will be more jobs and fewer trucks on the road."

He said the project was environmentally sound and would attract foreign investment.