CAMBRIDGE NEWS | 1
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2025
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NOVEMBER 20, 2025
Quarry deal confirmed By Mary Anne Gill
After four years and $130,000 in legal fees, Rhys and Antoinette Powell’s fight against a Cambridge quarry ended last week - not in court, but with a handshake. On site at French Pass Road, Rhys Powell and Fulton Hogan chief operating officer Simon Dyne agreed to preserve a 32‑metre high riverbank between the couple’s property and the RS Sand quarry at 77 Newcombe Road. The original application would have seen the bank, along the Karāpiro Gully, reduced at the start of the mining and
then removed completely at the end - in about 30 years. The Powells’ southern boundary is only 15m from the quarry. They would have had a ring side seat from their living room to a working quarry operation for all that time. The deal – which also sees a 3m bund installed on top of the bank - prompted the Powells to drop their Environment Court appeal. The agreement clears the way for RS Sand - owned by Stevenson Aggregates, a Fulton Hogan subsidiary - to extract 400,000 tonnes of sand annually. The company had already secured
a resource consent with strict and enforceable conditions imposed by both Waikato Regional and Waipā district councils after a Resource Management Act hearing before an independent panel. The conditions would protect neighbours, local roads and the environment, they said at the time. The conditions included the establishment of cultural landscape zone to protect native species, a limit of 150 daily truck movements through Cambridge and an annual payment of $17,200 to the Waipā council for road maintenance. Continued on page 2
Rockey flies free in town again By Chris Gardner
Rockey the galah rosebreasted cockatoo just wants to be left alone after a fourday abduction. Owner Jeanen Lindsey launched a search for the four-year-old cockatoo last Thursday following a report of her being bird knapped while visiting school athletics at the recreation reserve off Vogel Street, Cambridge. “A man grabbed her,” Lindsey said. A man matching his description was later seen at the town pet shop enquiring about caring for a rosebreasted cockatoo. Bird and owner were reunited on Sunday, when Rockey was found near Taylor Street.
“I am so grateful that the person has done the right thing,” Lindsey said. “Rockey was so happy to see me. I would hate to think what she went through.” The News reported in 2023 that Lindsey specialises in training ‘free-flyers’ - birds like Rockey who capable of living freely in populated areas with their human ‘forever home’ companions. It’s not the first time Rockey has been bird knapped. She has been returned from as far afield as Matangi and Te Awamutu. “If people want to spend some time with her my door is always open,” said Hamilton Road based Lindsey. “I love to educate people about free flight.”
“She flies to the rest home all the time… she’s even been on Zoom meetings with office staff. But she comes home for lunch.” Lindsey asked anyone who saw Rockey about town to leave her be.
Native to Australia, galah rose-breasted cockatoos can live for 70 years in captivity. They have been introduced to New Zealand and can be found in South Auckland and on Ponui Island in the Hauraki Gulf.
Rockey the galah rose-breasted cockatoo, right, is home with Jeanen Lindsey and friends after being birdknapped for four days.
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Rhys and Antoinette Powell in front of the 32-metre high river bank which will remain under the deal they struck with quarry operators.
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