Kowai River Gravel Extraction
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Screenworks Ltd www.rmps.work FORM 9: APPLICATION FOR RESOURCE CONSENT UNDER SECTION 124 OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACT 1991 Kowai River Gravel Extraction To: Environment Canterbury Southern Screenworks Ltd, applies for the resource consent described below: 1. The names and addresses of the owner and occupier (other than the applicant) of any land to which the application relates are as follows: The owner of the land is The Crown that is managed through LINZ – Private Bag 4721 Christchurch Central 8140. 1. The land to which the application relates is: The application relates to the Kowai River. The site is identified as LINZ Primary Parcel 6911718. 2 The type of resource consent sought is as follows: Land Use Consent 3. A description of the activity to which the application relates is: The applicant seeks resource consent for the following activities: ● Extract gravel from the bed of the Kowai River. The subject sites are shown on the plan attached marked Attachment A and within the individual Gravel Availability Advice. 4. The following additional resource consents are required in relation to this proposal and have or have not been applied for: Not applicable. 5. I attach an assessment of any effects that the proposed activity may have on the environment in accordance with section 88 of, and the Fourth Schedule to the Act: N/A 1 Screenworks Ltd www.rmps.work 6. Attach other information (if any) required to be included in the application by the district plan or regional plan or regulations. All information is contained in the application and the plans provided. 7. Where the application is for subdivision consent... No subdivision consent is sought. DECLARATION The Council relies on the information contained in this application being complete and accurate. The Applicant must take all reasonable steps to ensure that it is complete and accurate and accepts responsibility for information in this application being complete and accurate. If signing as the Applicant, l hereby represent and warrant that I am aware of all of my obligations arising under this application including, in particular but without limitation, our obligation to pay all fees and administrative charges (including debt recovery and legal expenses) payable under this application as referred to the Fees Information section. If signing as agent of the Applicant, l hereby represent and warrant that I am authorised to act as agent of the Applicant in respect of the completion and lodging of this application and that the Applicant is aware of all of its obligations arising under this application including, in particular but without limitation, their obligation to pay all fees and administrative charges (including debt recovery and legal expenses) payable under this application as referred to the Fees Information section. ……………………………………. on behalf of Southern Screenworks Ltd 4th May 2021 ………………………………………… Address for service of applicant: RMPS 5 Lune St, Oamaru Telephone: 027 24 24 876 Email: [email protected] Address for accounts: Southern Screenworks Ltd 50 Bealey Rd Aylesbury 7671 Attention: Brett Swain 027 435 3979 2 Screenworks Ltd www.rmps.work 1. Introduction Southern Screenworks Ltd. (the Applicant) seeks a Resource Consent, pursuant to Section 13 of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), relating to the extraction of gravel from two (2) sites on the Kowai River. Site A (Keens Road) – proposes the extraction of 20,000m³ of gravel from the bed of the Kowai River over a period of 5 years. An average maximum of 4000m³ per annum. Site B (SH73) - proposes the extraction of 20,000m³ of gravel from the bed of the Kowai River over a period of 5 years. An average maximum of 4000m³ per annum. Accordingly, this document is a resource consent application, including an Assessment of Effects on the Environment (AEE), to enable establishment and operational activities associated with an aggregate extraction from the Kowai River. This AEE complies with the requirements of the Fourth Schedule of the Resource Management Act 1991. This AEE confirms while the proposed activity, specifically the extraction, processing and stockpiling of gravel, is defined as a “Discretionary Activity” by virtue of Rule 7.4(a) of the Waimakariri Regional River Plan. Accordingly, it is concluded, with due respect, that the Application may be granted, subject to appropriate Conditions of Consent. 1.1 Overview of the Activity Screenworks is seeking to renew resource consent CRC166199 for the excavation of river gravel (aggregate) from the Kowai River in Selwyn District. Resource consents CRC166199 and CRC171152 were originally granted in favour of Fulton Hogan. CRC166199 was granted on the 5th August 2016 for a period not exceeding five (5) years. The consent authorises the quantity of gravel, sand and other natural material excavated from the bed of the Kowai River shall not exceed 45,000 cubic metres, with maximum volumes from each site as follows: A. Site 1: A total of 20,000 cubic metres over the consent duration; and a total of 4,000 cubic metres in any 12-month period; B. Site 2: A total of 5,000 cubic metres over the consent duration; and a total of 2,000 cubic metres in any 12-month period; C. Site 3: A total of 20,000 cubic metres over the consent duration; and a total of 5,000 cubic metres in any 12-month period. The consent authorises the extraction of 45000m³ from three (3) discrete sites on the Kowai River. CRC171152 was granted on the 5th August 2016 for a period of five (5) years. The consent authorises the discharge dust to air from gravel extraction and stockpiling. These resource consents were transferred to Screenworks from Fulton Hogan on the 25th March 2021. (Attachment B) This application is for a renewal of CRC166199 and is made under s124 of the Act. The scale and character of the existing consented activity will however decrease as Screenworks is only interested in extracting gravel a 3 Screenworks Ltd www.rmps.work maximum of 20000m³ from two (2) locations (40000 m³ in total) over the duration of the consent. CRC166199 authorised the extraction from 3 sites. The application is subject to the provisions of the Waimakariri River Regional Plan. Gravel aggregates are proposed to be excavated from the bed of the Kowai River at two sites as illustrated within the Gravel Availability (Attachment C). No change to either the location or extent of the two sites from that which is currently provided for is proposed. 1.2 Consent Sought The application seeks the renewal of the existing consent CRC166199 and is lodged pursuant to section 124 of the Act. A term of five (5) years is sought for this activity. Consent is not being sought to renew CRC171152 as the applicant has the ability to rely on its existing global consent - discharge of contaminant to air (CRC171920). No additional consents are being sought from ECan. The proposal does not involve working in flowing water, or does it involve the damming or diversion of water. The application does not require the removal/clearance of riparian vegetation or will the extraction compromise the integrity of existing engineering structures and defences against water. 1.3 Background Southern Screenworks Limited (Screenworks) is a major provider of aggregate and quarry materials in the Christchurch, North Canterbury and Kaikoura areas. Screenworks holds several resource consents authorising the extraction and processing of river gravels and is implementing procedures designed to continually improve the Company’s health, safety, and environmental performance. Screenworks have been in existence for over twenty-five years and are involved in the extraction, processing and stockpiling of gravel for roading, rail, construction, subdivision and building aggregates. A significant portion of the aggregate is supplied for use in State Highway and local roading upgrade and maintenance works. This aggregate meets New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), local authority and project specific engineering technical specifications. The proposed extraction and processing of river gravels from the Kowai River will provide raw material and processed aggregate material suitable for use in the maintenance of the state highway network for NZTA. Ice grit is a commodity produced and is widely used for road safety particularly during the winter months along the Porters Pass and alpine areas west of the extraction site. The material will also assist Selwyn DC with its roading infrastructure. 4 Screenworks Ltd www.rmps.work The material will be stockpiled so that it can be accessed as and when required during both the winter months and road maintenance season. Maintenance metalling tends to occur over the Spring-Autumn seasons however the scale and extent of the works will vary from year to year. Given the above, the demand for aggregate is inconsistent and as a result there is a requirement for flexibility around permitted annual volumes and stockpile sizes. 2. Site Description 2.1 Site Description The proposed gravel extraction site is the bed of the Kowai River. The site is identified in Attachment A. The areas subject to the extraction are Crown Land which is administered by LINZ. The Kowai River is within the rohe of Te Runanga o Tauhuriri and is a Statutory Acknowledgement Area under the provisions of the Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1988. The areas subject to the proposed excavation are not identified on Canterbury Maps as Silent File Areas however they are identified as Runanga Sensitive - Mahinga Kai. The immediate area is characterised by agricultural land and gravel extraction. SH73 adjoins to the south. 2.2 Background The riverbed has an abundance of gravel as evidenced in the Gravel Availability advice approved by ECan (dated 22nd March 2021) who note that it ‘does not meet the Gravel Authorisation criteria.’ A copy is attached to this application for resource consent (Attachment C).