Auckland Council is asking locals for submissions on the renewal of the resource consent to continue sand mining from Pakiri Beach.

Every year, 76, 000m³ of sand are taken in water five to ten metres deep in the Mangawhai-Pakiri embayment: the site of the largest single nearshore sand mining activity in the developed world. 

The McCallum Brothers, responsible for much of the mining since 2006, are seeking to renew their consents to continue mining.

Mining at Pakiri has been happening for over 80 years, and people who have regularly visited the beach over this time have seen a noticeable difference in the landscape. 

Renewal of the consent would give permission to extract up to a total of 2,000,000m³ of sand from an area of 44km² within the coastal marine area over a 20-year period. 

The group Friends of Pakiri Beach have been strongly opposing this operation, and earlier this year started a petition to stop the renewal of the resource consent. The petition got 2,021 signatures.

Once submissions close on June 4, Auckland Council will hold a hearing to consider all submissions, before making the decision on whether or not they will renew the resource consent. 

If you wish to have your say on this issue, file a submission here.

For more information check out Friends Of Pakiri Beach Org