In the aftermath of the RS Sand/Fulton Hogan resource consent application for a sand mine in Cambridge, I am left asking one simple question: How did we even get here? Yes, the eventual withdrawal of the application delivered the result the community deserved but it should never have come to this. Why was this allowed to progress at all?
Let me be clear: I am not against industrial development in the Waipā District. Industry plays a vital role in supporting employment, business, and the provision of essential services. But this wasn’t reasonable industrial development this was a proposal for a 20+ year open-cast mine, on the doorstep of residential homes and within 250 metres of Cambridge subdivisions.
For Waipā District Council to even give this application five minutes of serious consideration is staggering. The potential impact on the community was obvious and devastating. Yes, natural resources are sometimes located in challenging areas, but seriously considering a mine on the edge of a thriving town is either gross incompetence or complete disregard for the people you are meant to serve.
What made this even worse was the revelation that “draft approved” resource consents were circulated before public submissions were even heard. This process has seriously damaged public confidence in both the Council and its elected representatives. Why was the community dragged through this? Why were residents forced to spend their own time and money fighting something that should never have been entertained in the first place?
Some may ask why I submitted feedback when I live 2–3 kilometres away. The answer is simple: this was not just about my backyard this was about what is right for the wider Cambridge community. My submission raised clear, factual concerns:
· Traffic Management – Nearly 400 heavy vehicle movements planned per 10-hour shift.
· Noise Pollution – Excessive industrial noise levels impacting nearby residents.
· Water Usage – A proposed allocation of 290 million litres of water per year in a district already facing water use pressures.
· Air Quality – No clear standards for PM2.5 and PM10 particulate limits to safeguard health.
While I welcomed the outcome as covered in Cambridge News the bigger question remains unanswered: Why was this allowed to happen at all? And why are ratepayers left to bear the legal and emotional costs of fighting decisions that our Council should have rejected at first glance?
It’s time for Waipā District Council to reflect on its processes, priorities, and the role it serves. This community deserves better.
