Minister mulls over quarry law change
Canterbury Regeneration Minister Megan Woods is considering changing the law to pave the way for a mandatory buffer zone of at least 500 metres between quarries and houses.
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel asked the minister to release the city council from legal restrictions preventing it from amending its district plan, a framework governing the management of the area’s resources.
The move would mark a bittersweet victory for communities in Yaldhurst and Templeton, where residents have long fought quarry expansions in the former and a proposed development by Fulton Hogan near the latter.
Though any law change would be unlikely to affect existing quarries or those recently granted consent, it could safeguard land – and the health – of nearby residents in the future.
Yaldhurst resident Annell McDonagh, whose property backs onto a Road Metals quarry, welcomed the news, but said it was too late for those fighting the company’s expansion plans.
Yaldhurst Environmental Group chairwoman Soraya Nicholas said it would be ‘‘fantastic’’ for other communities, but was undermined by the mayor’s refusal to meet residents and discuss their concerns directly.
Under the district plan – and New Zealand law – there is no specified minimum distance quarries should be from residential properties.
The Resource Management Act (RMA) allows a company to quarry land where it chooses if it can demonstrate work will not have an adverse effect on a particular area. The amended legislation would require a gap of 500m from residential properties where there were concerns over dust, particularly from silica.
An air-quality monitoring programme in Yaldhurst run by Environment Canterbury (ECan) has recorded at least nine occasions of dust levels exceeding national environmental standards since it was set up in December.
Dalziel said there would be ‘‘total support’’ from the council to bring in such a rule, but warned doing so faced an ‘‘enormous [RMA] hurdle’’.
Woods’ office confirmed she is considering the legal amendment.
But changing the legislation would require the approval of ‘‘strategic partners’’ and the Governor General and could take at least five months.
Woods’ spokesman said: ‘‘The minister is considering if other avenues are a more appropriate way to make change and what the best way through is.’’
Earlier this month Road Metals was given the green light to expand its Yaldhurst site to close to 100m from homes, dependent on the outcome of air monitoring, despite residents producing evidence to show the quarry dust is seriously affecting their health.
Homeowners there and in Templeton have repeatedly written to local MPs – including Woods – and mayors about their concerns. MP Amy Adams has met with both Dalziel and Selwyn district mayor Sam Broughton to offer her sponsorship of a local bill through Parliament that would allow them to bring in 500m setbacks.