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Plans, policies and reports
Plans, policies and reports

Hauraki Gulf Islands  review

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Issues and options papers

Strategic Management Areas and Policy Areas


Issue
District Plans vary immensely throughout New Zealand. Even within Auckland City Council the three sections of the District Plan are very different in their approach, with each reflecting what was considered the best approach to resource management given the natural and physical resources of the area.

There are a number of questions that need be considered as part of any District Plan review, regarding the structure of the existing document and whether that should be carried through into the new District Plan. The current Hauraki Gulf Islands Plan was structured in a particular manner that was considered best to achieve the sustainable and integrated management of the Gulf's natural and physical resources. Through any review process it is important to determine whether that structure worked and if it should be maintained

The planning structure adopted as a basis for resource management methods in the Hauraki Gulf Islands Plan is the division of the district into Strategic Management Areas (SMAs). This permits the identification of physical, social and development characteristics. Common objectives and policies have been developed for each SMA. The rationale is that these provide a coherent basis for management of the areas through the application of rules. Strategic Management Areas are divided into land units and policy areas.

Land units are based on common features of the physical and natural landscape. Each land unit has a combination of physical and environmental characteristics by which it is distinguished. Rules and standards apply to the various land units, together with the criteria for assessment of applications.

Policy areas apply to a number of locations that exhibit a need for a more pronounced strategic approach to resource management in addition to the control regime presented by the use of SMAs and land units. Policy areas provide additional objectives and policies to be considered during the consent process.

While Strategic Management Areas can be broadly described as those geographic units which have a commonality for reasons related to elements of the physical and natural environment, policy areas are identified on the basis of a number of other factors such as existing subdivision patterns, existing development levels and types, and activities and development limitations.

The District Plan states that land units are identified by a combination of predominant natural and environmental factors such as slope, vegetation, drainage patterns, water systems, aspect, geology, soils, and propensity for erosion or other natural hazards. However, this really applies only to Land Units 1-10. Other land units are defined not only by the common features of the physical and natural landscape but also by settlement patterns, infrastructure, existing land uses and subdivision patterns and activities. Land units can therefore use a similar approach to policy areas in defining an area.

If land units reflect not only natural and environmental factors but other issues as well, is there a need for further delineation, specifically into policy areas? If land units can address the same issues as policy areas, do policy areas have a purpose? Do they add value to understanding and administering the District Plan, or can their provisions be incorporated within the relevant land unit?

If policy areas are still required, are they applied to the appropriate areas? Currently policy areas apply to the main Great Barrier residential areas, the principal Waiheke commercial areas and Rangihoua Park. The policy area maps for the Waiheke commercial areas represent more of a vision for future development than additional controls. Many of the criteria for the Oneroa policy area are design-orientated, which could be otherwise addressed through design guides. Some policy areas control all earthworks activity and vegetation removal. Is this an appropriate level of control? Regarding Great Barrier, if the policy areas seek to provide for a degree of residential development, then would a residential land unit be more appropriate for Tryphena, Medlands, Claris and Port Fitzroy?

If SMAs are required, is it necessary to have 19 SMAs (which are supposed to be broad geographic units), when there are only 26 land units (which are supposed to be more specific)? Fourteen of the SMAs principally relate to Great Barrier Island. Is there a need for 14 SMAs on Great Barrier when there are only 10 land units that apply to Great Barrier? It is likely that the number of Great Barrier SMAs could be reduced considerably without any deterioration in the approach to resource management.

The Plan states that SMAs bring integration at an area-wide strategic management level. However, with such a large number of SMAs it is doubtful if they provide strategic integration, and/or direction. On Great Barrier they divide the island to a greater degree than land units. Is there a case for reducing the number of SMAs if they remain?

Possible approaches

You may have a better or alternative approach to those outlined below. If so, we would like to hear from you.

  • Retain the status quo.
  • Rationalise the number of SMAs so that they represent an area-wide theme, rather than breaking them up into specific areas.
  • Rationalise the number of policy areas so that they apply to areas of particular significance that cannot be specifically provided for in the relevant land unit.
  • Remove SMAs and policy areas from the District Plan and allow for land units to provide relevant resource management directions for the Gulf.
  • Remove objectives from policy areas and SMAs and include them in the Issues and Strategy section of the Plan.
  • Remove controls relating to earthworks and vegetation removal in policy areas and let the underlying land unit rules apply instead.
  • Review controls relating to earthworks and vegetation removal in the context of an overall review of policy areas.

Note:

While this issue paper can be read in isolation, it is best read in association with the issue papers relating to: