Hole lot of worries

Neighbours of a massive quarry in central Auckland have more than a pile of rocks to be fretting about. Kieran Nash reports.
At the end of Mt Eden Rd in Three Kings there is a huge hole in the ground. Mostly invisible from the road, this hole is largely unknown to the people of Auckland. Also unknown to the people of Auckland is the owner's intention - to fill the hole with contaminated soil over the next 20 years.
Three Kings Quarry is Auckland's largest scoria quarry. The 15ha site has been in operation for more than 80 years.
Owner Winstone Aggregates has applied to Auckland Regional Council to "discharge contaminants into or onto land or to water".
What will happen to the stretch of land has many people concerned, including nearby resident Paul Smith.
"If this is the case and they're going to put contaminated fill in it, it's the least imaginative option that anyone can think of," says Mr Smith.
There are other options which would better serve residents, he says, citing Eden Garden sanctuary in Epsom - once an abandoned quarry.

"It's time someone created something like the Eden Gardens. Long-term, what would be better - a lake and gardens or fill?"
Others who are very concerned about the contaminants which could pollute the site cannot talk to The Aucklander on the record because they are appealing an original consent in the Environment Court.
Winstone Aggregates was granted consent to "cleanfill" the quarry in November last year. This decision was appealed by different parties, including local action group Three Kings United Group and waste company Envirowaste Ltd. They were concerned filling the quarry would create a contaminated site where one doesn't exist now, and concerned about chemicals leaching into the aquifer (underground reservoir) which runs beneath the quarry.
They are waiting on a hearing, scheduled in the Environment Court later this year, although a date has not yet been set.
However, in a letter to Auckland Regional Council in March, the managing director of EnviroWaste, Gary Saunders, outlined his concerns about the discharge of contaminants. 
The letter states the new application contradicts an original proposal to rehabilitate the site with cleanfill material, and now proposes to landfill Three Kings with waste soil materials contaminated with heavy metals, hydrocarbons and pesticides.
According to Winstone Aggregates' application, chemicals in the fill could include arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, chromium and lead. However, it states the concentrations of these will be below the maximum acceptable levels for drinking water.
Winstone Aggregates' general manager, Bernie Chote, says independent expert assessment found that "with appropriate conditions, the effects on the environment from backfilling the pit will be no more than minor".
In an email, Mr Chote states: "Local residents were consulted extensively as part of the original application for resource consents. The new resource consent is no different in content to that originally applied for and has been publicly notified and residents will have an opportunity to make submissions as part of that process.
"The application has been lodged to ensure all interested parties are completely clear about the proposed filling material to be used."
Auckland Regional Council land consents and compliance manager Rod Dissmeyer says the original consent was for a cleanfill and proposed fill didn't meet that criteria. Because of this, Winstone went back and reapplied.
"We believe those levels are acceptable and no more than minor in terms of the environment. Obviously the appellants hold a contrary view."
"Minor effects" are not defined under the Resource Management Act.
Another resident, Natasha Urale-Baker, who lives on Mt Eden Rd near the quarry entrance, had driven past the quarry in the past wondering if the quarry was going to be filled in, and with what.
"If the facts turn out to be they're putting in stuff that's not good for the soil then it's no good," says Mrs Urale-Baker. "Let's hope we don't hear about this in a negative light in 10 years' time."
Loads of concerns
Winstone Aggregates expects backfilling the pit will take between eight and 12 years. Auckland City Council has approved a maximum of 375 daily truck  visits to fill the 15ha hole.
This means a maximum of 750 truck trips per day will take place, more than one a minute at peak times.
Winstone originally proposed a second entrance to the quarry for the refilling project but after backlash from the community, withdrew that idea.