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Applicant Doug Schmuck sought Northland Regional Council approval for six replacement consents for discharges from his Richardson St boatyard to land, water, air and the coastal marine area.

His application was notified in July last year attracting eight submissions; three in support, four partially in support and one opposed.

The matter was heard by a two-member Council Hearings Committee at Opua last month with the Committee’s decision to grant the consents released recently.

Committee Chairman Mark Farnsworth says that subject to the conditions imposed, any adverse effects from the boatyard’s discharges will be “no more than minor”.

However, the Committee granted consent for 10 years – not the 15 years sought – saying the lesser period recognised the existing washwater discharge had not always achieved complete compliance with consent conditions.  (Mr Schmuck still holds a number of other Regional Council resource consents for the boatyard, which don’t expire until 2036)

“A 10 year term for these latest replacement discharge consents will provide a reasonable period within which the boatyard’s discharge treatment systems can be improved to a satisfactory standard.  At that point it will be appropriate to more fundamentally review the consents.”

Mr Farnsworth noted a key concern by submitters was an unresolved matter linked to Mr Schmuck’s occupancy of an esplanade reserve and “the easements that Mr Schmuck should be required to have to access and use the reserve”.

A legal opinion had been sought by the Committee to confirm its initial belief the easement issues were not related to the discharge matters, however, Mr Farnsworth says the Committee recognises submitters’ concerns and frustrations over the easement issue.

The Committee’s decision is open to appeal for 15 working days.