Iwi impresses engineer with vision for river
Rangita¯ne visions for enhancing the mauri, or life force, of the Manawatu¯ River have convinced a river engineer with 35 years of experience to recommend a conservative approach to quarrying within 100 metres of its banks.
Hoult Contractors has applied for resource consents to establish a 61-hectare quarry between Fitzherbert East Rd and the river.
Rangita¯ne o Manawatu¯ and Hoult are working on an agreement to see at least a 50m strip between the quarry and river planted in natives as soon as possible, even though operations are unlikely to start for at least 15 years.
Hoult has proposed the next 50m strip into the property, currently a dairy farm, would be excavated and filled first, and then replanted, including the creation of a wetland area.
At a hearing before independent commissioner Mark St Clair this week the prospect of protecting the total 100m buffer from quarrying has been canvassed.
River engineer John Philpott said his first impression was that 50m would be sufficient to protect the river.
‘‘But after hearing the views of iwi, I do not think that is enough.’’
Philpott said given the proposed long lag time before quarrying began, there was plenty of time for the relatively straight stretch of the river to move.
‘‘This is an area where the river once was.’’
He said he was concerned about what would happen if there was a flood while a potential 50m wide, 6m deep channel several hundred metres in length was being dug out.
‘‘In theory, it will be backfilled, but if that does not happen, the river could end up flowing through that channel, and it would be a problem where it comes out.’’
Philpott said the risk could be reduced if the area was excavated in a series of blocks, with gaps in between.
The better solution would be not to dig it at all.
He said the 100m planted buffer would be the best approach, and the sooner the better.
The other main issue on the final day of the hearing yesterday was the proposed new access road into the quarry.
St Clair spent a lot of time grappling with the significance of a conditional approval from Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency for the new road off State Highway 57-Fitzherbert East Rd.
At the quarry’s expected peak production, there would be 60 25-tonne truck and trailer movements through the new gateway each day.
The city council’s engineer, Glenn Connelly, has raised serious doubts about the work that would be needed to make it safe, especially to provide improved sight lines for right-turning vehicles.
‘‘The geometry of the road is somewhat challenging.’’
He said the document from the agency was a sort of approval in principle and it could take more than just cutting back vegetation to create better visibility, and the cost might be considerable.
St Clair’s decision is expected about the end of next month.