ECan opposes quarry consent

Environment Canterbury has come out against a contentious quarry proposal, citing conflicting information.

Rooney Holdings' resource consent application with the Timaru District Council to quarry a 66ha site near Seadown Rd for the next 20 years has led to significant public outcry. More than 100 individuals have submitted on the application – the largest response to any planning issue in the council's history – with more than 80 opposed.

ECan's Christchurch office granted Rooney Holdings a certificate of compliance, after the firm argued the discharge of contaminants would not damage the environment, nor would the gravel excavation rate exceed more than 100 tonnes an hour. The quarry still requires a land use consent from the district council to proceed.

However, ECan's submission to the Timaru District Council opposed the resource consent application.

It said the earthmoving firm had provided "conflicting information" to the two councils and that several proposals, such as storing diesel fuel in a 20,000 litre puff-tank, may have required ECan's resource consent.

"Rooney Holdings' application fails to adequately provide for the management of discharges, including fuel storage.

"It is in conflict with the principles of integrated management by not providing for all related resource consents to be considered collectively."

ECan also asked for Rooney Holdings' application to be put on hold, pending more information.

The district council will appoint a commissioner as it has lodged two separate submissions.

One is against the proposal, due to its possible effects on traffic, but another is in favour, due to the gravel the quarry could produce.

Danny Bennett, chairman of an incorporated society opposed to the quarry, said the situation was "a shambles".

"We really want to know what's going on here," he said.

"We have a district council which has lodged both in favour and against the quarry, and a regional council which has lodged a submission against after it already has granted a certificate of compliance.

"It would have been nice if the district council had ... listened to the people on this one. Seadown doesn't want a big quarry causing all that disturbance, and there are plenty of other places to quarry for shingle. This just crazy stuff, absolutely crazy."

Mr Bennett said the society would hold another public meeting, inviting Timaru Mayor Janie Annear, Rooney Holdings boss Gary Rooney and South Canterbury ECan councillor Mark Oldfield. Mr Oldfield sold the Seadown site to Mr Rooney.

- © Fairfax NZ News