ChanceryGreen assisted Refining NZ to obtain all necessary resource consents to authorise a major coastal dredging project in the Whangarei harbour channel entrance. The project was carefully designed in order to allow more heavily laden tankers to safely access the Marsden Point terminal, increasing efficiency and improving navigation.
Chris Simmons led Refining NZ through all stages of scoping, planning, design, application and hearing including successfully disposing of an Environment Court appeal. Dredging was based on a ‘minimum footprint’ approach, based on achieving a target depth within a demarcated channel. Disposal was similarly carefully planned, including targeted disposal to replenish the near-shore system. The project also involved a slight realignment of the navigation channel, in consultation with the regional harbourmaster.
Following extensive investigations by a team of independent experts to assess all relevant effects, hearings before independent experts appointed by Northland Regional Council, and an appeal to the Environment Court, all resource consents sought were granted. The consents authorise capital dredging of approximately 3 million cubic metres, plus ongoing maintenance dredging.