Inside Resources - Brookby expansion underway

SOURCE INSIDE RESOURCES, COLLIN WILLISCROFT, WED APR 30 2025

Work on erosion management controls for Brookby quarry's stage 3 expansion began last week, giving effect to the resource consent for the project that was granted in October.

Kaipara managing director Steve Riddell says it's part of the development necessary to open the stage 3 pit, which he expects to be operational in the next nine to 12 months.

That will provide access to an additional 157 million tonnes of greywacke, bringing the quarry's total consented amount to 211 million tonnes.

"That's the next 84 years of rock at the current market demand," he tells Inside Resources.

Demand

Stage 3 of the south Auckland quarry's expansion covers about 42.2 hectares.

The consent application said it was needed to ensure Brookby can continue to commit to long-term rock supply contracts - often 10 years-plus - with major New Zealand concrete producers and infrastructure contractors.

Auckland's predicted growth - combined with critical investment stimulus for planned infrastructure development - is expected to more than double the region's current annual aggregate needs to 20-25 million tonnes by 2033.

Brookby is well placed to meet this growing aggregate demand, the company said in its application, with existing and future access to an aggregate resource of more than 450 million tonnes of high-quality rock.

Plans

The expansion consent was granted under the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act.

After it was granted, a range of management and planting plans needed to be finalised and signed off by Auckland Council before work on the expansion could begin. Essential cultural monitoring and inductions with Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki have also been completed.

Riddell says the consent was the final component in what's been a five-year plan to expand the quarry that now enables Brookby to contribute to the community's needs and meeting the region's existing and future infrastructure requirements.

He says Brookby now has all the necessary resource consents in place to more than double its current production when infrastructure project demands require that.