Attended by approximately 60 people, including the Honourable Jan Tinetti MP, Councillor Anne Henry, Chair of Community Board John Clements, Chair of Tauranga Forest and Bird Richard James and Forest and Bird’s Regional Conservation Manager Dr Chantal Pagel.

Apologies were received from Mayor James Denyer, Councillors Rodney Joyce and Alan Sole, and Kate Graeme, national President of Forest and Bird. Matthew Farrell, Editor of The Lizard, also sent a late apology. Paul and Ruth Draper, who live on Wharawhara Road couldn’t make it but wanted to note their opposition to the proposal.

Others who were invited but declined to attend include MP’s Scott Simpson and Cameron Luxton, as well as Kris Theiss, District Manager for DOC, Hone Winder-Murray, Chair of Te Rereatukahia marae and Dudley Clemens, Environmental Manager for J Swap.

Executive Summary

The proposed project was developed in a short timeframe and is unlikely to resemble the substantive application, which will enter the Fast Track process proper when it is filed. After ministerial and EPA reviews an expert panel will be convened to review it and approve or turn down the application.

Katikati Quarries Ltd (KQL) don’t have a timeframe for when they hope to have a substantive application prepared, or when they will file the formal application for a Fast Track Approval.

When they do, they will have to consult with or demonstrated that they have consulted with the landowners, WBOP District Council and BOP Regional Council), iwi and other affected parties. The costs incurred by the consulted have to be paid by the applicant.

Apart from Agency and Iwi representation, Conservation Boards and Hunting Authorities, “affected parties” are confined under the Act to the owners and occupiers of neighbouring properties. However, Project Parore (“Uretara Estuary Managers Inc”) also has a claim to be affected, due to its custodianship of the catchment and estuary below, and its named inclusion in the current water discharge Resource Consents from the BOPRC. As a condition of those consents a Quarry Engagement Group was to be set up with representation from Project Parore and iwi. The Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 Clause 53 Para 3 states “Comments may be invited from any other person the [expert] panel considers appropriate”.

The community who were represented at the meeting felt they should also be consulted or at least kept fully informed of the project and plans, and consequently Project Parore undertook to organise another public meeting when the substantive application is available to review, which Stu Husband (KQL representative) agreed to support.

The neighbours and community present all felt they had not been communicated with adequately, to date.

Stu Husband said that if DOC and iwi will approve new works within the boundaries of the current Mineral Permit, that an expansion of it will no longer be required. Then, it would be unlikely that a substantive application would need to go ahead, and the relocation of a tributary to the Quarry Stream which is proposed in the current plans would not be required.

The stream relocation is a major concern to all of the community and especially the neighbours, some of whom draw water from it.

A number of attendees were keen on the idea of some pre-emptive mitigation work occurring, especially screening the quarry from sight with native trees to the east and south. Supporting more riparian planting around the watercourses downstream of the quarry would be another act of good faith both in the environment and in the future of the quarry.

The full report of the meeting is available to be viewed and/or download here.