It is easy to demonstrate the
importance of aggregates in any conversation about infrastructure and other
engineering artefacts.
Peoples around the world have
made use of stone to enrich and enhance their lives since the earliest days of
civilisation. In New Zealand, Maori used hard durable rocks for weapons, tools,
and basic structures. European settlement accelerated the use of quarried
materials and formed the basis for development of our society as we see it
today. Logic might suggest that the quarrying sector would be recognised
positively for, and encouraged to continue to contribute to, this underpinning
of the way we are. The reality is Not In Most Back Yards'. Why? The rock is
where it's always been (often overlooked) and our social' environment is
today's hard place.
For a resource-based business in
New Zealand, that environment is principally the Resource Management Act, with
the widespread power it has distributed to anyone prepared to invest their time.
This coupled with a lack of leadership and direction in the implementation of
the Act has created a climate that stifles development and diverts energy and
resources to playing the game' rather than lifting the game'. Perhaps the real
costs of this are not yet widely recognised.
The paper will draw mainly on the
experience of endeavouring to consent a greenfield' quarry in the Waikato
region. This is supported by commentary based on nearly 10 years of living'
with the RMA at sites across much of New Zealand.
RMA Scorecard Summary: Effects
based? Rarely. Level playing field? No. Maori Consultation? Could do better.
Efficient use of resources? No. Timely? No. Is it working for other sectors?
Certainly not the quarrying industry's customers and end
users.