• Listed
  • Substantive application
  • Comments
  • Wildlife approval
  • Panel considering
  • Decision

Further wildlife approval sought, requiring suspension of processing by panel convener

The Bream Bay Sand Extraction substantive application has been suspended to allow for an amendment to seek a further wildlife approval.

Read about the application, comments received, and other activity relating to this additional approval on the appropriate project page.

Processing of the rest of the application has been suspended to allow this to take place. Processing will resume when directed by the panel convener.

Minute 7 of the panel convener – suspension to allow addition of wildlife approval

Project summary

Extract (using a motorised trailing suction dredge) up to approximately 150,000 cubic metres of sand per annum for an initial period of 3 years and up to approximately 250,000 cubic metres per annum thereafter.

Project location

17 square kilometre area of seabed in the marine and coastal area of Bream Bay, Northland.

Project listing application

Bream Bay Sand Extraction Project application – Ministry for the Environment website

Completeness decision

The substantive application by McCallum Bros Limited was deemed complete on 17 February 2026. The application complies with the requirements of section 46 (2) of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024. The application was lodged on 26 January 2026.

Record of decision on completeness and scope – Bream Bay Sand Extraction substantive application (PDF, 95KB)

Memorandum on completeness and scope – Bream Bay Sand Extraction substantive application (PDF, 999KB)

Completeness responses received

Northland Regional Council (PDF, 95KB)

Department of Conservation (PDF, 95KB)

Competing applications decision

The substantive application by McCallum Bros Limited was deemed to not have any competing applications or existing resource consents on 26 February 2026. This decision is required under section 47 of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.

Record of decision on competing applications − Bream Bay Sand Extraction substantive application (PDF, 80KB)

The application has been referred to the panel convener for determination by a panel.

Decision of appointment of panel and timing of panel decisions

On 31 March 2026, the panel convener issued a minute covering:

  • the appointment of the expert panel

  • the timeframe for panel decisions for the Bream Bay Sand Extraction project under clause 2 of section 79 of the Act.

The minute can be viewed on the Correspondence page for the Bream Bay Sand Extraction project.

Correspondence

  • Substantive application

    The substantive application documents for the Bream Bay Sand Extraction project.
    Read more

  • Expert panel

    Information about the expert panel appointed to consider and decide the Bream Bay Sand Extraction project.
    Read more

  • Correspondence

    Minutes, directions and other correspondence to and from the panel convener and expert panel regarding the Bream Bay Sand Extraction project.
    Read more

  • Reports and advice

    Read reports, advice and further information sought in relation to the Bream Bay Sand Extraction project.
    Read more

  • Conferences, workshops and hearings

    Watch and learn more about conferences, workshops and hearings in relation to the Bream Bay Sand Extraction project.
    Read more

  • Comments from invited parties

    The expert panel invites written comments on the application from the persons or groups set out in section 53(2) of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.
    Read more

  • Applicant's response to comments

    Read the applicant's response to the comments from invited parties.
    Read more