Three Kings Quarry (Basalt and Scoria)
Tony Carpenter
Winstone AggregatesThree Kings Quarry (Basalt and Scoria)Available Hours
- Weekdays 7.00AM - 4.00PM
- Saturday 7.00AM - 12.00PM
Physical Address
Postal Address
Core Products
Roading, Drainage, Bulkfill
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Visit threekingsquarry.co.nz
Three Kings Quarry, Auckland City’s largest scoria producer has been operated by Winstone Aggregates for nearly 90 years. The site produces scoria, supplying the majority of central Auckland’s drainage material.
History
The volcanic cone complex at Three Kings has been subjected to quarrying from around the time that George and William Winstone began their horse and cart deliveries of coal from Queen Street wharf, in the mid 1800s. The original site, (encompassing Winstone Aggregates’ land and adjoining properties) was granted to Messrs Hallimor and Polack in 1845 and in 1884 sold to William Connelly. In 1922, Winstone Limited took ownership of a 15 hectare portion of the site, increasing output steadily with the development of the surrounding community.
Three King’s current capacity of around 170,000 tonnes per annum was reached in the 1950s, although company records show that annual production has at times exceeded 200,000 tonnes. Quarrying originally occurred above the level of surrounding land and there were three other quarries in the vicinity. Today, none of the original topography remains and the entire site has been lowered to road level and in parts, considerably lower. Activity to the north of Winstone Aggregates’ site ceased about 25 years ago, and has since been filled and rehabilitated. A mix of light industrial and residential activities now exist.
Scoria extraction at Three Kings involves machine excavation from a face or the floor of the quarry. Excavated material is taken to a mobile impactor also located on the quarry floor. The raw product is then processed into various grades of PAP and chip material by several stages of crushing and screening. Three Kings Quarry also stocks a range of imported GAP products.
Together with the Auckland Council and representatives of the local community, Winstone Aggregates has established a Site Liaison Group. The purpose of this group is to consult on an ongoing and regular basis about matters associated with the operation of the quarry where they affect the community and are of mutual interest to the representative parties. The group is well patronised with around 100 people attending the last meeting.
Like all of Winstone Aggregates’ sites, Three Kings operates in accordance with a quarry management plan. This is reviewed annually and updated in consultation with the Site Liaison Group.
Beyond the boundary of the site, Winstone Aggregates works hard to build good, constructive relationships with its community. Significant contributions of time and materials have been made to neighbouring Three Kings Primary School, the Three Kings United Football Club and Waikowhai Intermediate School’s Trees for Survival programme.
Site rehabilitation and redevelopment: consenting in progress
While existing resource consents authorise further excavation of the quarry down to sea-level or 0m RL, Winstone Aggregates intends ceasing excavation at about 34m RL while progressively backfilling the quarry pit.
To enable filling of the quarry, Winstone Aggregates requires consents and although a logical first step post-quarrying, the site will require re-zoning and most likely will require further resource consents before any other use or development will be permitted.
Applications for necessary consents were lodged with Council in 2009. The application was publically notified in April 2010 and directly referred to the Environment Court where the application was heard with the appeals to the 2009 decisions. After a comprehensive process, consents have been granted.
Three Kings Quarry, Auckland City’s largest scoria producer has been operated by Winstone Aggregates for nearly 90 years. The site produces scoria, supplying the majority of central Auckland’s drainage material.
