Consents granted to fill Opua site

Far North Holdings has been granted resource consent to deposit up to 45,000 cubic metres of marine dredgings and clean fill on to a several-hectare Opua site over the next decade.

Parts of the Paihia Rd, Opua site will eventually be up to 2.5 metres higher, with the bulk of the dredgings sourced from a proposed multimillion dollar revamp of the Paihia waterfront.

A four-member joint Northland Regional-Far North District Council Hearings Committee recently met in Opua to hear an application by Far North Holdings (FNHL) for a number of consents that would allow dredgings and fill to be used to help develop the 4.6 hectare Paihia Rd site. (Applications for the Paihia waterfront redevelopment project are being dealt with through a separate consent process.)

The Opua application – which also sought permission for stormwater discharge activities - was publicly notified in July last year attracting seven submissions; five opposed, one in support and one neutral. Issues raised by opponents included concerns over dust, odour, flooding, stormwater and traffic issues.

However, in its decision, the Committee – chaired by Northland Regional Council Chairman Mark Farnsworth – ruled the proposed activity was appropriate for the area and not contrary to the relevant planning documents.

It noted that the site had historically been used as a “fill deposition area” and subject to the conditions imposed, consent would allow the efficient disposal of new dredgings with only minor environmental impact.

Committee members noted the site had no significant ecosystems and that once filled, the land would be up to 2.5m higher – raising it above flood levels and possible rises in water level due to climate change.

They accepted the site was in a highly visible area and would be able to be seen by both surrounding properties and traffic using State Highway 11, but once it was “re-vegetated it will no longer be visually dominant”.
 

Accordingly, they granted the applicant four Regional Council and two Far North District Council consents needed for the project. The consents are valid for 10 years.

The Committee’s decisions on the applications to both Councils are open to appeal for 15 working days.