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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume. 34, Number 5. 1971

Metal Contractors Agree to Ecology Action Proposals

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Metal Contractors Agree to Ecology Action Proposals

The first confrontation between private industry and VUW environmental activists occurred last weekend.

News of the despoliation of Fitzroy Bay appeared in the 'Evening Post' on Friday 2 April. A photograph showed how 10,000 cubic yards of gravel had been removed from this lonely beach, which lies between Baring Head and Pencarrow, South of Eastbourne. Some gravel had been shifted illegally, from below the high water mark. Ecology Action feared that destruction of the storm beach would lead to massive and unsightly erosion of the unstable greywacke cliffs.

A gravel barrier extends across the mouth of Gollans Valley, behind the beach. The contrac- page break tors had excavated great pits in this barrier, and if continued, this would have led to a lowering of the level of the lagoon which fills the valley. The lagoon is designated a Wildlife Refuge, and is one of the few places around Wellington still with good numbers of ducks and Black Swans.

Immediate direct action was organised against the companies concerned, the Fitzroy Bay Sand Co. and Horokiwi Quarries Ltd. The Hutt Valley Drainage Board's Pencarrow Road was picketted on Saturday morning by about 20 members of Ecology Action. Trucks going to the beach were to be turned back, and northbound trucks stopped, and forced to take their loads back to the beach.

Contrary to information received, no trucks were operating, except for a Drainage Board vehicle. But the protest was a major success, and the issue featured as the main national news item in Saturday's 'Post', and was also covered by radio and T.V.

On Sunday the heads of the Fitzroy Bay Sand Co. and Horokiwi Quarries contacted Sandy Bartle, to invite representatives from Ecology Action to inspect the site. As anticipated, the contractors were extremely concilliatory, and after discussions in the presence of a 'Post' reporter on Sunday afternoon, they agreed to the following conditions:
1.No gravel would be removed from below the high tide mark, and any holes dug into the sand for exploratory purposes would be filled in again.
2.No more gravel would be excavated from below the water table under the barrier which fronts the lagoon.
3.The working face will be extended into the gravel barrier fronting the lagoon by a maximum of 10 feet during 1971.
4.The companies will advise Ecology Action of any major extensions to the Fitzroy Bay operations.
5.The contractors will abide by any reasonable recommendations arising from a scientific survey of water table levels, beach accretion rates, and the alluvial structure, the survey to be organised by Ecology Action.

OPEN AIR ROCK CONCERT

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