Aquaculture Direct Limited (ADL) successfully navigated a challenging Auckland Council resource consent renewal process for four of Te Matuku Oysters’ farms on Waiheke Island.
Te Matuku Oysters was established by Lady Jennie Fenwick and her late husband, Sir Rob Fenwick to showcase environmentally sustainable oyster farming on Waiheke Island. They were part of the team advocating for the creation of the Te Matuku Marine Reserve within which two of the farms are sited, and at the same time they covenanted the adjacent land, which was 1,000 acres, so that it could not be mined, subdivided or disturbed.
Te Matuku Oysters use state-of-the art oyster farming technology with suspended Seapra baskets replacing traditional timber rack and rail structures. The new method has a multitude of environmental benefits including significantly improved tidal flows and minimal loss of debris to the seabed.
The farms have now been issued with consent renewals for a further 35 years. The consent conditions appropriately recognise the contribution that Te Matuku Oysters makes to the environment and the community and that the oyster farms have been part of the Te Matuku and Awaawaroa Bay environments for many years.
“I highly recommend ADL. They have an in-depth knowledge of the consenting process, including under the new National Environmental Standard for Marine Aquaculture (NES:MA), are able to deal with all the issues surrounding local plans and the RMA process and enjoy good working relationships with Government, councils, iwi, and community groups.
More importantly for me they attend quickly and professionally to any questions. Rebecca was masterful at making complex concepts understandable to us and communicated frequently updating us on progress.
I have already recommended ADL to another farmer who was equally pleased with the service and result.”
Jennie Fenwick – Te Matuku Oysters
