RESIN AND WAX HOLDINGS LTD Resin and Wax Holdings Ltd Peat Extraction and Processing Project Resource Consent Application September 2019 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page INTRODUCTION 3 RESOURCE CONSENTS REQUESTED 4 SITE DESCRIPTION 4 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL 16 CONSULTATION 33 DISTRICT & REGIONAL PLAN ASSESSMENT 35 ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 42 SUMMARY 48 2 DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose of this Document This document comprises an application by Resin and Wax Holdings Limited (RWHL) to Far North District Council (FNDC) and Northland Regional Council (NRC) for grant of resource consents to extract and process Kauri peat in Far North for recovery of natural waxes and resin. 1.2 Background Resin and Wax Holdings Ltd (RWHL) is a New Zealand company planning to establish extraction and processing operation at Kaimaumau for recovering resin and wax product from kauri peat. The peat harvesting will be from several farmland sites in Far North. The processing plant will be located on land owned by the local Iwi Te Runanga o Ngai Takoto (Ngai Takoto)at Kaimaumau. RWHL have agreements with the farm owners and Ngai Takoto (at their Sweetwater property) for access to the resource. Ngai Takoto has agreed to provide land for the process plant at Kaimaumau property as part of their strategy to reclaim and derive income from their unproductive Kaimaumau land. The resin and wax project is seen integral to the Iwi’s plan to develop their land and has their full support. The project has significant economic benefits for the region. It will generate $60 million in export earnings when fully implemented and will provide full-time employment to 50 people of which 80%+ will be local hire. In addition, the iwi has plans for a housing development to accommodate construction and operating labour and future workers for their Kaimaumau development plans. A summary of the RWHL proposal is attached in Appendix A. The RWHL operation involves excavating the peat areas, solvent extracting the crude waxes and resins and refining them into finished products for shipment to export markets. The operation has three key elements. i. the extraction of wet peat from the farmlands ii. the processing of peat to recover the natural waxes and resin iii. the return and restoration of spent peat to the same area from where it was extracted. Parts of the NT Kaimaumau property has been used in the past for a similar resin and wax extraction operations (Kaurex 1985). More recently parts have been cleared for kauri log extraction and other farming projects (Sovereign 2009). Over recent years large areas have also been affected by weed and exotic plant infestation including the spread of Sydney Golden Wattle. The other farms are individually owned and in close vicinity to the Kaimaumau plant site. Some of these are in productive use mainly for dry stock whilst some are underdeveloped but being repurposed for agriculture/horticulture purposes. 3 2 RESOURCE CONSENTS REQUESTED RWHL is seeking the following consents from Far North District Council (FNDC) and NRC (Northland Regional Council) to implement this project. Far North District Council . Land use consent for carrying out the proposed activities inclusive of earthworks, vegetation clearance, land drainage, storage and use of solvents, noise emission, and site access, in terms of the District Plan rules on these matters and Section 9 of the RMA. Northland Regional Council . Land use consent for vegetation clearance, land drainage and earthworks pursuant to the Regional Water & Soil Plan and Section 9 of the RMA; . Discharge consent to divert and discharge surface water from draining of the peatlands using existing drains to the lower Waiparera Creek and onto Rangaunu Harbour . Discharge permit for the discharge to ground of treated wastewater from ablution and kitchen facilities associated with the processing plant, in terms of the Regional Water & Soil Plan rules and Section 15 of the RMA; . Discharge permit for the discharge to ground of treated stormwater from outdoor storage, vehicle parking and other impermeable surfaces, in terms of the Regional Water & Soil Plan rules on this matter and Section 15 of the RMA; and . Discharge permit for the discharge to air of contaminants from the processing plant, pursuant to rules of the Regional Water & Soil Plan and Section 15 of the RMA. The completed application form is attached herewith this document. 3 SITE DESCRIPTION 3.1 The Sites The extent and nature of peat resource on the various sites including the NT Sweetwater property, currently in productive farmland and in proximity to the NT Kaimaumau site, are identified in the RWHL Project Overview Report and the Soil & Rock Assessment of Potential Peat Resources together appended as Appendix B. They are also explained in the RWHL Peat Excavation Management Plan in Appendix C. A Quickmap of the target properties (peat sites) is contained in Appendix D. Figure 1 shows the resource potential of the peat deposits in Far North while Figure 2a and 2b show the target farms for peat extraction in the Kaimaumau and Sweetwater areas. The NgaiTakoto farm is the largest site at Sweetwater and is shown in Figure 2c. Details on all the target sites is provided in Table 1. 4 Figure 1 –Potential Peat Resources – Pukenui to Awanui Source: Soil and Rock Report 5 Figure 2a – Target Peat Extraction Sites Kaimaumau Figure 2b – Target Peat Extraction Sites Sweetwater 6 Figure 2c – Ngai Takoto property at Sweetwater for peat extraction (Northern Block Dairy 3) 7 Table 1 – Peat Extraction Sites Kaimaumau And Sweetwater (Excludes NT Kaimaumau Peat land) No. Farm Legal Description Total Ha Peat Ha Peat Depth m Zoning 1 Honey Tree Farms Lot 2 DP 497050 Section 53 SO 55920 84 15 3 Rural Prod Section 55 SO 55920 Section 54 SO 55920 2 Petricevich Section 40 SO 36657 Section 18 SO 24801 Lot 2 DP 413761 70 45 3 Rural Prod Lot 2 DP 379754 Section 71 Blk 5 Opoe SD SO27091 3 Oretere Farms Ltd Lot 1 DP 120253 Section 51 SO22981 Section 96 SO29891 Lot 2 DP 120233 Lot 2 DP 379754 172 50-80 2 Rural Prod Lot 1 DP 405064 Lot 2 DP 405064 Section 30 Blk III Opoe SD 4 Jeremy White Section 50 SO 53927 Section 41 SO 37299 Pt Section 42 SO 335329 106 50 2-4.8 Rural Prod Lot 2 DP 336507 Lot 2 DP 198540 5 J R Jones Lot 1 DP 105102 88 30 2-3 Rural Prod Lot 2 DP 105102 6 Wayne Bratton Lot 1 DP 38694 32 20 3 Rural Prod 7 Bob/Kevin Campbell Lot 2 DP184379 Lot 1 DP 193585 Lot 2 DP196114 150 60 1.5 Rural Prod Lot 1 DP40152 Lot 3 DP 40152 Lot 1 DP 497050 8 Elbury Holdings Ltd Lot 1 DP 22761 340 Joe, Fionna, Logan King Lot 2 DP 13971 (200 Rural Prod Pt Section 26 SO 28799 K'maumau, 30-50 2 & Gen Lot 1 DP193586 140 Coastal Lot 1 DP 184379 Sweetwater) 9 Iwi - Ngai Takoto/ Te Rarawa Lot 2 2500 300 3 Rural Prod Sweetwater Farms DP 365143 8 Honey Tree Farms Ltd adjoins the NT property on the western side. Honey Tree Farms is a 16 ha block within 1 km of the process plant and accessible by existing vehicle tracks. It is zoned for rural production. Honey Tree are re-purposing and developing their land for an Avocado Orchard and have applied to NRC for water rights which has been granted. Drainage is through the Kaurex main drain which runs through the NT property to Waiparera Stream and in turn the Rangaunu Harbour. Figure 3a : Honey Tree Farm Petervich Farms (total 70 ha) is 2-3 kms from Processing Plant. 45 ha is suitable for peat extraction.The property borders Honey Tree Farms and in close proximity to NT Kaimaumau block. Figure 3b : Petricevich Farm 9 Oretere Farm contains 50 hectares of peat deposit within 1 km of the proposed process plant. Road access is already in place on a cooperative basis. Farm drains are also in place which can be easily upgraded to drain the block. Figure 3c –Oretere Farm Jeremy White Farm has three farms totalling 106 ha. The peat deposit of interest is in the northern farm totalling 50 ha and is partly undeveloped. Road access may require upgrading for peat movement. Peat deposit 2-4.8m deep. Figure 3d –Jeremy White Farm The Elbury holdings peat deposit is in swampy paddocks on the western and southern side of the property. There are eight 4 hectares paddocks with 2m deep peat deposit. The balance of the 10 property is very shallow with a high sand pan. The land has a gradual fall towards the harbour. Feasibility of establishing drains being investigated. Raceways will be developed in some areas for truck movement. The property is being farmed in some areas while some parts are undeveloped. Figure 3e – Elbury Holdings Ltd The Campbell property has shallower peat deposit over a 50 hectares area and lies on the other side of the main highway going north. Peat depth is estimated at 2 m. Feasibility of drains and is being investigated. Raceways in place. Figure 3f – Campbell Property 11 Wayne Bratton and JR Jones Farms are located in the Sweetwater area . The Bratton farm has peat areas close to the lake which is not used for productive/farming purposes.Kauri logs has been removed from this area in past. The Jones farm (88 ha) has approximately 30 ha of peat deposit suitable for extraction. Figure 4a – Wayne Bratton and JR Jones Farms Sweetwater Ngai Takoto Northern Block Dairy 3 is 999 ha block out of total 2454 ha Sweetwater Station jointly owned by Ngai Takoto and Te Rarawa .