KEY POINTS:
The people who dig up rocks and gravel want to change the image of their business.
They say the widespread belief that quarries are dirty and noisy is blocking development of new quarrying in the Auckland region, and boosting the cost of rock and stone.
The Aggregate and Quarry Association says Aucklanders have to pay dearly for rock and stone, as no new quarry has been approved in the region for more than 10 years.
Instead, Auckland brings in tonnes of rock from Northland, Waikato and even the South Island.
The cost of aggregate doubles for every 30km it has to be trucked from a quarry to a building site.
"Quarries are not the dirty neighbours that many people perceive," said association president John Boyce.
"Most quarries carefully monitor the quality of their water and air.
"New Zealanders, and their ambitions for New Zealand, need aggregate - lots of it. But they perceive quarries will bring aggravation, especially in urban or semi-urban areas .
"Unfortunately, this is a view that most local authorities fail to challenge."
The association, which will discuss the issues at its 40th annual conference being held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel , is calling for a national body to be set up to address resource issues and the appointment of a minister responsible for aggregate. They want a national policy on aggregate supply set up under the Resource Management Act which would set standards for councils to meet in long-term planning for local aggregate supplies.
Local authorities would have to designate extraction zones, with quarry operators given a say in regional long-term planning.
Nationally, less than 14 million tonnes of aggregate was mined in 1991, 4 tonnes per person. Now about 50 million tonnes are produced - about 11 tonnes for every New Zealander.
A panel discussion on access to rock and stone will include members of the aggregate industry and local councils.
