Rare worms, seagrass halt plans for Kaipara oysters

Plans for the country's biggest oyster farm have been knocked back because of planning commissioners' concerns about possible effects on the health of seagrass and tube-building worms.

The rejection by Auckland Regional Council commissioners has shocked the Warkworth-based Biomarine company, which wanted to occupy 104ha of the remote southern Kaipara Harbour.

The company said its plan to fatten elite oysters in the clean waters would earn $18 million annually in exports and create 150 jobs.

Waata Richards, a kaumatua of the Haranui Marae, said yesterday the decision was a blow for his people who saw it as a business opportunity.

"We hoped for cadetships at the farm as it developed in stages and to learn how to manage it or set up our own."

Rodney Mayor John Law, who supported the bid, said the council was dismayed because it was desperately trying to encourage job opportunities along the western Kaipara.

Biomarine director Jim Dollimore said he was disappointed and was considering appealing to the Environment Court.

Dr Dollimore said it was the first application for marine farming heard since the Minister of Conservation lifted a moratorium on aquaculture projects.

Then the ARC had satisfied the minister that the proposal area was of a size and location that would not harm the environment .

Now the commissioners were refusing to grant resource consent for the farm and were recommending the minister refuse consent for it to occupy the coastal marine area.

However, commission chairman Wyn Hoadley said that since then an ARC technical report had been produced on seabed life in the southern Kaipara.

This said rare and unique marine life communities found there performed important ecological functions.

The communities were rare tube-building worms which stabilised sand and subtidal seagrass which sheltered baby snapper, trevally and goatfish.