Mining of Birdlings Flat sand subject of hearing

Press, 29 August 1986, Page 18

Mining of Birdlings Flat sand subject of hearing

Mining at Kaitorete Spit, Birdlings Flat, is the subject of a Planning Tribunal hearing to begin in Christchurch on September 8. More than 20 objections will be heard to an application by W. A. Habgood, Ltd, for a Mining Act licence on the spit, according to the Lands and Survey Department Mining Division officer of resource assessment and design, Mr Stewart Lewis. The company wants to continue extracting a special grade of sand for sand-blasting and blockmaking. "The mining has continued in the meantime under approval from the Land Settlement Board,” Mr Lewis said. “A preliminary hearing was conducted in March and the main hearing was to have begun in June but was postponed.

“The company is expected to produce its evidence in support of the application and the Mines Department pians to seek alterations to certain conditions of the mining. I am not aware of any other group that plans to present a supporting submission of the mining.” The 20 or more objections covered a wide range of points from the geological and botanical to the historical and cultural values of the spit, Mr Lewis said. The hearing, chaired by Judge Skelton, at the Planning Tribunal No. 1 boardroom in the “Star” building, Kilmore Street, is expected to take at least a week. On its completion the tribunal will make recommendations to the Minister of Energy, Mr Tizard, who will decide whether to grant the Mining Act licence.