District Plan Hauraki Gulf Islands Section - Proposed 2006
(Notified version 2006)
Street index |
Planning maps |
Text |
Appendices |
Annexures |
Section 32 material |
Plan modifications |
Help |
Notified - Home |
Decision - Home
Part 2 Resource management overview
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Description, environment and resources
2.3 Statutory context
2.4 Sustainable management
2.5 Resource management issues and objectives
2.1 Introduction
This part of the Plan describes the characteristics
that make up the islands, sets out the statutory context of the Plan,
describes how the Plan encourages sustainable management and identifies
broad gulf-wide resource management issues and related objectives.
2.2 Description,
environment and resources
The islands are spread over a large area of the Hauraki
Gulf and are a significant part of Auckland City. The islands contain
substantial natural and physical resources which include location, climate,
topography and landscape. In particular, the landscape values inherent
in the natural environment of the islands contribute to the unique identity
of this part of the city. The landscape values include the:
- varied coastline
- rugged interior
- bushed slopes
- sweeping white sand beaches on north and eastern coastlines
- extensive wetland and estuarine systems
- significant and extensive wildlife habitats and ecological corridors
- bays and coastal headlands with significant areas of native bush and shrubs.
The natural environment has been modified significantly
in some areas by historical land use practices and development of physical
resources including buildings and structures. In some areas the built
environment dominates, but in others it is well integrated with the
natural landscape features. The islands are an essential part of the
city's heritage as a place of conservation and preservation of the natural
environment, as well as an area where wide opportunities exist for recreational
activities.
The people who live, work, visit, or own land in the
islands are the human resource which enhances these natural and physical
resources. They influence the pattern of development and their enterprise
will ensure its future viability and prosperity. Consideration must
be given to the integration of the natural and physical environment
and the complex set of issues that development of the islands brings
with it. Conservation of the landscape and natural environment; respect
for and protection of heritage values; and the fostering of cultural
aspirations, are all issues which need to be addressed in the management
of future development on the islands.
Limited land use capacity coupled with infrastructural
constraints means that the potential use of land for particular intensive
activities is limited. Transport linkages are crucial to development
potential, as well as being instrumental in facilitating appropriate
recreational opportunities consistent with a conservation ethic. Sensitive
control coupled with innovation and initiative will be essential to
the proper management of the future development of the islands.
The character of the islands has also been influenced
by the nature and qualities of its people who, from the early Maori
inhabitants to the later European settlers, turned the islands into
a special place to live and visit.
Maori have a history of long occupation on different
islands and this is evidenced by a large number and range of archaeological
sites which can be identified today. The islands have played a significant
part in Maori pre-history and history, dating from the time of the arrival
of the first canoes in Aotearoa.
While European heritage is far more recent, there is
a rich and varied history of European settlement and activities. Many
resident families have origins tracing back to those early settlers.
Further information about the history of human settlement
in the islands can be found in annexure 1a - The history of human settlement
of the islands.
A simple summary of the island's resources would include
the coastline, the unique natural landscape, the diversity of cultures
and people, the built environment and clusters of communities, and the
transport networks.
2.3 Statutory
context
The RMA is the primary statutory document governing
the Plan. The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000 also needs to be considered
as do a range of other national and regional planning documents.
2.3.1 Resource Management
Act 1991
The purpose of the preparation, implementation and administration
of the Plan is to assist the council to carry out its functions in order
to achieve the purpose of the RMA. The council's functions are further
described in section 31 of the RMA but they are, broadly, to manage
and control the effects of the use, development and protection of land.
The purpose of the RMA is 'to promote the sustainable
management of natural and physical resources'. Section 5(2) defines
'sustainable management' as follows:
"2. In this Act, 'sustainable management' means managing
the use, development, and protection of natural and physical resources
in a way, or at a rate, which enables people and communities to provide
for their social, economic, and cultural wellbeing and for their health
and safety while-
- Sustaining the potential of natural and
physical resources (excluding minerals) to meet the reasonably foreseeable
needs of future generations; and
- Safeguarding the life-supporting
capacity of air, water, soil, and ecosystems; and
- Avoiding, remedying, or mitigating
any adverse effects of activities on the environment."
Environment is defined in section 2 as including:
- "Ecosystems and their constituent parts, including
people and communities; and
- All natural and physical resources; and
- Amenity values; and
- The social, economic, aesthetic,
and cultural conditions which affect the matters stated in paragraphs
(a) to (c) of this definition or which are affected by those matters:"
Section 6 identifies matters of national importance,
which need to be recognised and provided for in achieving the purpose
of the RMA. Section 7 deals with 'other matters' which need to be given
particular regard to in achieving the purpose of the RMA.
Section 8 requires the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi
(Te Tiriti O Waitangi) to be taken into account in achieving the purpose
of the RMA.
2.3.2 The Hauraki
Gulf Marine Park Act 2000
The Plan covers considerable areas which are subject
to the provisions of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000 (the 'HGMPA').
The purpose of the HGMPA is to:
- "integrate the management of the natural, historic,
and physical resources of the Hauraki Gulf, its islands, and catchments:
- establish the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park:
- establish objectives for the management
of the Hauraki Gulf, its islands, and catchments:
- recognise the historic, traditional,
cultural and spiritual relationship of the Tangata Whenua with the Hauraki
Gulf and its islands:
- establish the Hauraki Gulf Forum."
The HGMPA requires the council to ensure that any part
of the Plan that applies to the Hauraki Gulf, its islands, and catchments
does not conflict with sections 7 and 8 of that Act which recognise
the national significance of the Hauraki Gulf and set out objectives
for its management.
The HGMPA also requires the council, when considering
an application for a resource consent for the Hauraki Gulf, its islands
and catchments, to have regard to the matters set out in sections 7
and 8 of the HGMPA.
The provisions of the Plan accord with those of the
HGMPA. The council will have regard to the sections 7 and 8 of the HGMPA
when considering any application for a resource consent that may reasonably
impact on the Hauraki Gulf, its islands and catchments.
The interrelationship between the Hauraki Gulf, its
islands, and catchments and the ability of that interrelationship to
sustain the life-supporting capacity of the environment of the Hauraki
Gulf and its islands are recognised as matters of national significance
by the HGMPA and by this Plan.
Sections 7, 8 and 9 of the HGMPA are attached to the
Plan as appendix 10 - Sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Hauraki Gulf Marine
Park Act 2000.
2.3.3 Other statutory documents
The Plan is influenced by the planning documents of
other agencies. Those documents include:
- national policy statements and the NZ coastal policy statement
- regional policy statements and plans
- management plans and strategies prepared under other legislation (such as the conservation management strategy prepared by the
Department of Conservation under the Conservation Act 1987).
Other influences include:
- iwi authority considerations
- the Treaty of Waitangi.
The Plan must give effect to any national policy statement,
any NZ coastal policy statement and any regional policy statement (made
operative after 10 August 2005). It must not be inconsistent with any
regional plan.
2.4 Sustainable
management
2.4.1 Concept of sustainable
management
As noted above, the purpose of the RMA is 'to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources'. The concept
of sustainable management is complex and involves a range of considerations, including the following elements:
- managing the adverse effects of human activities on the environment
- considering the natural environment
- enabling people to meet their needs
- considering future generations.
These four elements are briefly outlined below.
Managing the adverse effects of human activities
on the environment
The use of natural and physical resources can result
in damage to the environment. Controlling these effects is an important
part of sustainable management. Their impacts can be managed by establishing
environmental limits for the effects of development.
Considering the natural environment
The natural environment has values that are extremely
important to the district. Where significant values are identified,
the Plan is used to manage and protect the particular sites, areas and
systems.
Enabling people to meet their needs
The Plan makes provision for activities that enable
people to meet their needs and aspirations while at the same time it
aims to ensure the environment can sustain the needs and aspirations
of future generations. This provides a level of certainty to the community
about what can happen in their environment and gives people the ability
to influence how things occur.
Considering future generations
Each generation has a continuing obligation to leave
future inhabitants of the district with a sustainably managed environment.
2.4.2 Sustainable
management and the Plan
The district plan is one of the tools used by the council
to promote sustainable management. The district plan is most effective
when it works together with the long-term community plan, the annual
plan, and other council regulatory and non-regulatory methods and initiatives
to promote good resource management outcomes.
The Plan will encourage, and in some cases require,
particular methods to be used as part of development, to promote sustainable
management.
Examples of these methods include:
- Controlling the type, scale and location of activities and development in order to avoid, remedy or mitigate any adverse effects
on the environment.
- Protecting sites and items with significant heritage values including archaeological sites, historic buildings, conservation
areas, sites of ecological significance, geological items, and notable trees.
- Protecting areas of landscape significance.
- Including a sustainable design guideline to encourage low impact development (refer
appendix 11 - Sustainable design guidelines
for the islands).
2.5 Resource management
issues and objectives
2.5.1 Introduction
This part of the Plan sets out the broad high-level
issues and resulting objectives for the islands as a whole.
Part 3 -
Strategic management areas sets out issues and objectives and policies
for particular islands or groups of islands. Other parts of the Plan
have more specific issues, objectives, policies and rules relating to
particular topics (such as heritage, natural hazards, hazardous facilities
and contaminated land) or areas (such as a particular land unit or settlement
area).
All the issues, objectives, policies and rules set out
in the Plan are targeted at achieving sustainable management of natural
and physical resources.
2.5.2 Sustainable
management
Issues
The significant resource management issues which need
to be addressed in the Plan are:
- How to encourage more sustainable management
of natural and physical resources.
- How to ensure that growth and development
occurs in a manner that is consistent with sustainable management.
Objectives
- To manage land use activities to ensure
that adverse effects are avoided, remedied or mitigated.
- To limit the intensity of subdivision
and land use to a scale that is appropriate to the different characteristics
of various island environments.
- To promote more sustainable transport
options such as walkways and cycleways as an alternative to use of the
private motor vehicle.
- To enable the growth of the local
economy, including business and employment.
- To encourage low impact methods
of resource use and development including more sustainable building
practices and cleaner production techniques.
2.5.3 Coastal
Issues
The significant resource management issues which need
to be addressed in the Plan are:
- How to encourage more sustainable management of the natural and physical resources of coastal environments.
- How to manage the hazards posed to people, property, and the natural environment by coastal erosion and inundation by the sea
(and considering the impact of climate variability).
- How to recognise the requirements of coastal policy statements, plans and legislation (such as the National Coastal Policy
Statement, Regional Coastal Policy Statement, and Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000) which apply to the islands.
- How to ensure that development pressures do not result in adverse effects on sensitive coastal environments and unique coastal
character.
- How to ensure that public access to the coastal environment is maintained and improved.
- How to ensure that land uses activities do not degrade coastal water quality due to:
- sediment runoff from earthworks and erosion
- effluent runoff from inadequate or malfunctioning effluent disposal systems
- other contaminant runoff from roads or other hard surfaces.
Objectives
- To ensure that coastal subdivisions provide
for improved public access to the coast except where this is not practicable
due to erosion or safety concerns.
- To prevent subdivision and development
in coastal areas where there is a high risk of natural hazards.
- To limit the intensity of land use
and subdivision to a level which is appropriate to the natural character
of the coastal environments.
- To limit and manage earthworks and
vegetation clearance so as to avoid or minimise sediment runoff into
coastal waters.
2.5.4 Landscape
Issues
The significant resource management issues which need
to be addressed in the Plan are:
- How to encourage more sustainable management
of natural features and landscapes.
- How to ensure that outstanding natural
features and landscapes are protected from inappropriate subdivision,
use and development.
- How to maintain the dominance of
natural features over built features in areas which are valued for their
natural landscapes.
Objectives
- To ensure that buildings and structures
in area of significant landscape value are sited and designed in a manner
which maintains the dominance of the natural environment.
- To protect significant geological
landforms and ecological areas from being destroyed, or degraded through
alteration or other means.
- To encourage the retention, management
and enhancement of existing indigenous vegetation.
- To achieve positive environmental
benefits from subdivision and development such as planting and protection
of significant environmental features.
2.5.5 Water
Issues
The significant resource management issues which need
to be addressed in the Plan are:
- How to encourage more sustainable management
of natural and physical resources so that activities occurring on land
do not adversely affect water systems.
- How to ensure that activities occurring
on the land do not degrade or reduce the long term availability of water
through natural systems such as aquifers and bores.
- How to ensure that activities occurring
on the land do not adversely affect the quality, quantity or flows of
water in permanently flowing streams and rivers, lakes and wetlands
due to:
-
sediment runoff resulting from vegetation
removal, earthworks and erosion
-
effluent runoff from inadequate or malfunctioning
effluent disposal systems
-
other contaminant runoff from roads or
other hard surfaces
-
changing volumes of runoff due to an
increase in hard surfaces.
Objectives
- To limit and manage earthworks and vegetation
clearance so as to avoid or minimise sediment runoff.
- To ensure that new development uses
appropriate methods to minimise runoff.
2.5.6 Natural
environment
Issues
The significant resource management issues which need
to be addressed in the Plan are:
- How to encourage more sustainable management
of natural and physical resources so as to avoid, remedy or mitigate
adverse effects on the natural environment.
- How to ensure that the development
pressures do not result in adverse effects on the natural environment.
This includes adverse effects on:
- indigenous vegetation and fauna habitat
- coastal areas
- wetlands
- the margins of lakes and rivers
- water resources
- the natural character of the landscape
- areas of high ecological value
- geological features.
- How to prevent the loss and degradation of significant ecological features. This can result from:
- removal of indigenous vegetation
- sediment runoff from vegetation removal, earthworks and erosion
- reduced water quality, or changes in the quantity or flow of water
- pest and weed encroachment
- stock encroachment.
- How to address conflicts between the use and preservation of the natural environment.
- How to address the potential for mining, and its associated adverse effects on the natural environment.
Objectives
- To protect the significant elements of
the natural environment.
- To protect and preserve areas of
significant ecological value.
- To prohibit, throughout the islands,
the introduction, keeping or farming of new organisms, and identified
plant and animal pest species.
- To prohibit mining throughout the
islands.
2.5.7 Maori
Issues
The significant resource management issue which needs
to be addressed in the Plan is:
Objectives
- To provide for Maori to develop and manage
their ancestral lands in a manner which meets their needs. On Waiheke,
this includes the Ngati Paoa land at the eastern end and the Piritahi
Marae. On Great Barrier this includes the Ngati Rehua land and marae
at Motairehe and Kaoa.
- To recognise and provide for the
protection of waahi tapu and other ancestral sites in a sensitive and
culturally appropriate manner.
- To recognise in the Plan's provisions
the kaitiakitanga role of Maori with mana whenua.
2.5.8 Human environment
(other)
Issues
The significant resource management issues which need
to be addressed in the Plan are:
- How to provide for a variety of lifestyle
and residential opportunities including:
-
a range of residential property sizes
-
permanent residents, holiday homes, and
accommodation for seasonal visitors.
- How to manage the effects of the
use and development of land in accordance with the requirements of the
RMA without placing unreasonable restrictions and costs on residents
and landowners.
- How to manage diverse and conflicting
aspirations about the way in which the resources of the islands should
be used, developed or protected.
Objectives
- To ensure that residential development
is undertaken in a manner which respects the character and amenity of
the islands while allowing for a variety of lifestyle choices.
- To ensure that the requirements
of the RMA, Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000 and other relevant legislation
are adhered to within the Plan while appropriately and fairly applying
the costs of this administration.
- To appropriately balance the varying
requirements and aspirations of residents and visitors to the islands
while recognising and protecting its unique character and amenity.
