Stop the quarry expansion on the Waimakariri

The Waimakiriri River is a large, braided river in Canterbury that flows from the Southern Alps. However it’s a river under pressure. The Waimakariri has naturally low flows which are now compounded by human activity, mainly abstraction from both the surface and groundwater system for irrigation and by climate change.

Now it's under further threat from a proposed huge quarry on its banks. Sol Quarries Ltd is applying to be able to take more river gravel for gravel construction, crushing, processing, and heavy truck haulage from Baynons Brake, Clarkville. 

If allowed, the consent will allow 585 thousand cubic metres  of gravel to be taken from the Waimakariri river to be used to build the foundations for the fast tracked Woodend Bypass in North Canterbury. (The Mayor of the Waimakariri District Council recently told concerned residents that 1 million cubic metres will need to be  extracted for the motorway). 

The gravel will be extracted from Baynons Brake in the Waimakariri River, near Kaiapoi.

This has the potential to destroy the delicate ecosystem of one of New Zealand’s most important rivers. 

The Waimakariri River is a braided greywacke gravel river and its bed structure is fundamental to its ecological function. Gravel harvesting can trigger severe physical changes including decreases in habitat diversity. The Waimakariri river is home to native fish species including the Longfin eel that is classified as threatened. 

Included in these consents is the ability to crush and screen gravel which will release silica into the air and the river. When freshly fractured silica crystals  enter waterways there is increased turbidity which reduces light penetration and suppresses aquatic growth, and degrades the visual environment that visual hunting fish such as trout depend on for foraging . Fine particles also settle on spawning gravels, smothering eggs and reducing the oxygen supply that incubating eggs require . 

 

The river’s fragile ecosystem  as well as the natural habitats of endangered fish, birds and other wildlife will be destroyed. 

We're very concerned about water quality impacts on aquifers and water systems, and we note experts have said that no stockpiling or processing should take place on the riverbed.* 

The quarry expansion will destroy the local community. Under these consents, heavy truck and trailer units would haul from the Waimakariri river 150 times a day. The route goes through the horse park and passed Silverstream Reserve via Baynons and Heywards road. This will create an unsafe environment for recreational users of the river and surrounding parks, and harm the well being and safety of nearby residents.

We're very concerned that the application is not being publicly notified. 

With the current state of rivers in New Zealand maintaining the highest quality of water in this river should be a top priority.

We are local residents in the area who are very concerned about the proposed new quarry. If you also care about protecting rivers and our natural ecosystems in Canterbury please sign the petition!

Notes

* Notification Recommendation Report for CRC241207/208 - Mr Sriyan Jayasuria (CRC service water scientist)

Work begins on North Canterbury’s Woodend Bypass as fast-track application considered, The Press 2026

Conservationists alarmed by new report into New Zealand's freshwater, RNZ 2026