Sand mining proposal alarms residents in coastal village

Wednesday, 18 August 2021

Communities on the West Coast fear a ban on new mining on DOC land could devastate their economy and future. (Video first published in July 2018)

Some residents of a small West Coast community are concerned they will be put at risk by radiation, trucks and noise from a proposed mineral sand mining operation.

The proposal for Cape Foulwind, near Westport, will bring 40 trucks each day to the area, which is home to a famed seal colony, a surfing beach and stunning views.

Westland Mineral Sands Ltd has applied to the West Coast Regional Council and the Buller District Council for resource consent to mine 500,000 tonnes of heavy mineral concentrate over 10 years.

The application says the company has a prospecting permit over 21.1 hectares of land at Cape Foulwind. The site is a former dairy farm and the mining would be for heavy minerals including ilmenite, garnet and rare earth elements.

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Cape Foulwind on the West Coast is famed for its coastal beauty. It’s located about 5km from where the proposed sand mining operation will be.

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The proposed mine operation will be near farmland.

Westland Mineral Sands director and shareholder Ray Mudgway said the company had independent scientific reports that showed the material was not radioactive.

However, a letter distributed to Cape Foulwind residents, by a resident who declined to be named, said there was a “big risk” of radiation from this type of mining because the deposits included radioactive thorium. The resident claimed radioactivity could increase by up to five times while the material was processed.

“This type of mining is new to New Zealand, meaning virtually no pertinent and relative New Zealand based information on this subject exists,” the man wrote.

The resident was concerned about dust, water and the operation’s proximity to homes.

“We believe there is a clear radiation health risk here. This is a major concern as the implications for the community is massive.”

Residents wanted more clarity about the effects of the project, and he hoped the councils would publicly notify the application so everyone in Buller could have a say, he said.

Residents fear the mining proposal will harm recreational and tourism opportunities in the area.

Cape Foulwind resident Jude Giugni launched a petition against the proposal, which has gained almost 300 signatures.

The petition says Tauranga Bay is one of the jewels of the untamed natural wilderness of Buller and a prime recreational area.

She called for the application to be publicly notified, citing “major safety concerns” with the increase of trucks on the narrow Okari and Tauranga Bay roads.

She feared the project would effect wildlife, tourism and property values.

The application includes an environmental assessment that says the proposal “will have no more than minor adverse effects on the environment while having positive effects in terms of economic growth and local employment opportunities”.

The application says the company would put in substantial mitigation measures to protect heritage and indigenous flora and fauna and water bodies. An acoustic assessment says the processing plant would operate 24-7, but noise would be lower than district limits during the day. However, night-time limits would be breached at the boundary of some neighbouring properties.

The effect on birds in the area, including Westland petrels and little blue penguins, would be “negligible”, it says.

Mudgway said the mining operation would employ 40 staff.

A mineral sand mining operation has been proposed near Cape Foulwind.

The company planned to remove topsoil and process sands using water from Blind River to remove the heavy mineral concentrate. The minerals would be shipped overseas from Westport port, and the excess material and topsoil would be put back onto the land.

Adjoining wetlands, native bush and a recorded archaeological site would not be disturbed and the land would be rehabilitated with vegetative cover, he said.

The company got an independent scientist to process 100 tonnes of samples from the area, and they found the material had a non-radioactive classification, he said.

Mudgway said he was relaxed about whether the company’s application was publicly notified or not, saying that was a decision for the councils to make.

“We want to look after the environment and engage with the community. Not everyone will like it, but I believe it will be a good thing for the community,” he said.

The West Coast Regional Council said the application was on hold awaiting further information from the company.

Westland Mineral Sands director Hugh Grey and shareholder Mark McIntyre were also behind a failed plan to bring a waste-to-energy plant to the West Coast.

Further south on the West Coast, residents near Barrytown are also opposing a proposed sand mine there.

Barrytown JV Ltd applied for resource consent from the West Coast Regional Council and the Grey District Council to mine 5000 tonnes of heavy mineral concentrate from 115ha of private farmland every week for 15 years. The minerals would be trucked along the Coast Road tourist drive (State Highway 6) to Westport for exportation.

Opponents were concerned about the effects it would have on native animals, house values, road safety and the mental health of those living nearby.

A decision on the company’s application has yet to be made.

*CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said an acoustic assessment found noise from the processing plant would be lower than district limits. However, night-time limits will be breached at the boundaries of some neighbourly properties. (Amended August 24, 2021, 1.10pm).