Long Bay silt watch plea

Environmental agencies back North Shore City Council's plan for housing development at Long Bay but want stringent independent monitoring of the massive earthworks to prevent silt running off into the marine reserve.

Planning commissioners heard that sediment may already be present at Long Bay - one of Auckland's most popular beaches and regional parks.

Auckland Regional Council marine scientist Shane Kelly said important species to Long Bay - horse mussels and heart urchins - were sensitive to sediment.

A marine ecologist with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Dr Simon Thrush, was concerned that no detailed assessment of ecological risks had been done.

City council planners agreed it had not found out how much silt could be absorbed before the marine ecosystem was seriously disturbed.

ARC ecologist Shona Myers noted that North Shore planners wanted protection and restoration of existing vegetation and stream banks, but she felt conditions had to be stronger to ensure developers did it.

Landco, which is the major landowner in the Long Bay structure plan area, said its own plan offered protection of the coastal environment by "appropriate" sediment and stormwater treatment.