Sand plans raise water concerns

Ngahinapouri residents fear major expansion of an existing sand mine in the village could seriously affect the bore water they draw for their properties.

But sand mining applicant Lance Coombes told a reconvened resource consent hearing at Te Awamutu this week that at no stage was he proposing to mine closer than one metre above the water table, so could not see how there could be any adverse effect on groundwater.

It was the final day of a hearing which started in November, and has aroused much passion both in Ngahinapouri and the council chambers  where there were occasional angry public interjections as well as a muzzled attempt to claim a significant conflict of interest by a professional consultant.

About 60 houses and the Ngahinapouri school and golf club draw from the water table and are worried that disturbing the sand will affect the quantity and quality of their water, particularly as no independent evidence had been presented to quell their fears.

Reid Rd resident Glenn Dunbier said he built his house 10 years ago with a bore water supply, and if this was affected, the property would be uninhabitable.

The sand mine would extend to within 105m of his home.

"It would likely be unacceptable if that risk was applied to the water supply of a town," he said. "We only ask that we be treated in the same way."

The committee asked him if assurances about Mr Coombes not mining in the water table had eased his mind.

"No," he replied. "After 25 years as a policeman I tend to be cynical and see the dark side. Just because people don't want things to happen doesn't mean they won't happen."
Mr Coombes said the quarry could be practically managed above the water table level.

But in the absence of any groundwater monitoring by the applicant or Environment Waikato, Reid Rd resident Martin Reid drilled his own neighbourhood test holes.

He concluded from water depths that plans to extract 1.6 million cubic metres of sand were overstated, with less than a quarter of that sand available if the water table was not to be disturbed.

Coombes' counsel Joan Forret said that was an issue for the applicant, and expert evidence was consistent that there would be no adverse effect on groundwater as long as consent conditions were upheld.

Residents highlighted a litany of historic incidents in which Mr Coombes had transgressed existing sand mining consent conditions

But Dr Forret said this should satisfy residents that there was an effective monitoring regime which was effective in picking up any shortcomings.

Mr Coombes objected to proposed groundwater monitoring conditions sought by submitters.

"We have never had groundwater monitoring in any of our past mining consents and do not know of any other sand quarries that have this requirement now."

"We intend to reinstate this land for dairy farming. We milk over 1300 cows and have no intention of returning reinstated land to a boggy mess."

He criticised residents for not employing a consultant with technical engineering expertise, or accepting advice from Environment Waikato.

Meanwhile  resident Ian Poole sought to present a conflict of interest complaint to the hearing, but committee chair Dianne Sharpe refused to hear it
Mr Poole was concerned Waipa District Council's consultant planner Kathryn Drew was the daughter of Margaret Drew, principal shareholder and sole director of Monovale Sand Quarry, which operates in Parallel Rd in the Waipa district.   He argued her recommendation that the application be granted was compromised by this relationship.

He also questioned whether her appointment was consistent with statements from the auditor general's office that being a relative of someone with such interests was among a range of circumstances that creates, or perceives to create, a conflict of interest.

Ms Drew refused to comment when approached by the Times.

But Mr Poole was angry that this relationship was not even disclosed by the commissioners or Waipa District Council at the start of the hearing.

"Because of the weight and far reaching aspects of her report and the importance this commission is likely to place on Ms Drew's finding, our submission is that this hearing needs to be halted forthwith and new commissioner, together with fresh planners, appointed."

More than anything, this 11th hour attempt to discredit the application process was perhaps an indication of the depth of feeling about the project in Ngahinapouri.

A decision on the sand mining application is expected within three weeks.

- © Fairfax NZ News