Managing the expansion of one of New Zealand's key cement quarries while navigating complex consenting and land use challenges.

Golden Bay Cement, New Zealand's largest cement manufacturer, operates Wilsonville Quarry, a lime quarry with specific chemical properties required for cement manufacturing at its Portland site. Boffa Miskell was tasked with managing the resource consent process for a major expansion of the existing quarry, increasing the pit from 48ha to 90ha, and developed a Quarry Management Plan to guide the ongoing operation and management of Wilsonville Quarry.

Location

Northland

Project date

2019 - 2024

Site context

Regional consents from Northland Regional Council and land use consents from Whangārei District Council were required to enable the expansion. To support the resource consent applications, Boffa Miskell prepared landscape and visual assessments.

The application sought new resource consents to authorise the redevelopment of the Wilsonville quarrying pit, including overburden placement and increased water take and discharge operations. Associated activities included the removal and placement of overburden, resource extraction, the taking of groundwater, and the discharge and diversion of stormwater associated with on-site sediment ponds.

Consents were granted in 2024. Following this, Boffa Miskell was engaged to help protect the quarry from the effects of a neighbouring subdivision proposed along the quarry boundary, managing reverse sensitivity issues associated with the incompatible land use. This included a hearing process where Boffa Miskell provided expert evidence. The proposal was ultimately appealed to the Environment Court, where a mutually acceptable outcome was reached through mediation.

Site operations and footprints