Auckland's Underground Water - At Risk Of Pollution

The decision to grant the Three Kings Quarry owners, Winstone Aggregates, resource consent to fill the Mt Eden Road quarry with waste material will be challenged in the Environment Court next week, starting Monday 7th. The waste material will be permitted to contain elevated levels of contaminants including arsenic, copper, zinc, DDT and hydrocarbons.

Local clean water campaigner Joel Cayford says this is a major issue for Auckland’s water supply as the site sits above, and drains into Auckland's fresh water aquifers.

“Water from these aquifer is already drawn by some, including Auckland Zoo. Aquifers are also a back-up drinking water source for Auckland in the event of a natural disaster, such as the one we have just seen in Christchurch. We have had no guarantees that contaminants from the fill will not leach into the aquifers and there are no proposals to safely line the landfill, or to collect and treat leachate.”

He says there has been many submissions opposing this “permit to pollute” process, including a wide range of community interests whose concerns have not been addressed.

“These concerns include not only the critical water issues, but also the fact that up to 750 trucks – many of them articulated – will carry fill to the quarry every day with dramatic effects on local traffic flow. In addition there will be significant dust pollution and noise from the operation itself. This could go on as long as 35 years, which is the term of the consent.” For more information please go to: www.joelcayford.blogspot.com or http://www.facebook.com/SAUWFP for the ‘Save Auckland's Underground Water from Pollution’ facebook page.

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