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Plans, policies and reports

District Plan - Hauraki Gulf Islands section

District plan review

<< Back to focus groups

Landscape focus group - directions for working party

Introduction

Group members:
Peter Green Graham D'Arcy
Graham Hooper Pauline Frances
Sue Pockett Phil Blackwood
Margaret Mills Lynne Stewart
Dr Rachel Ebbett Sally Smith
Brian Griffiths Daphne Mitten
Peter Green

Group support:
Dorothy Wakeling (facilitator)
Sarah Nairn (ACC)
Katherine Dorofaeff (ACC)
John Hudson (ACC landscape consultant)
Aaron Putt (ACC) (attended last meeting only)

The focus group has particularly considered the following aspects of landscape:

  • Land units
  • Outstanding natural landscapes
  • Coastal
  • Ridgelines (and catchments)
  • Colour / form / scale / size of buildings
  • Vegetation
  • Walkways

Directions

The focus group wishes to indicate the following directions to the working party:

1.0 Land units

  • Identify and address situations where the land units have not been applied consistently. However the existing land unit approach is generally supported.
  • Re-evaluate the division between eastern and western Waiheke in terms of how the land units are being applied in eastern Waiheke. (The group did not reach total agreement on this point).
  • Maintain the location of the Metropolitan Urban Limits as identified by the ARC in its regional plan.
  • Avoid repetition between controls in land units and controls in policy areas.
  • Show flood plains on the District Plan.
  • Show category 1 streams from NZMS260 on the District Plan.
  • Reconsider the range of activities provided for in land unit 20 (landscape protection) which is a buffer area. Larger scale entertainment facilities and visitor facilities are not suitable.
  • Ensure that objectives and policies are stronger, so that non-complying activities can be declined. This statement applies to other parts of the Plan also - not just land units.
  • Include some thresholds (upper limits) whereby discretionary defaults to non-complying.
  • This statement applies to other parts of the Plan also - not just land units.
  • Ensure that the Plan includes appropriate controls on how buildings are placed in the landscape. Consider location of building sites and access to them. Control earthworks and require screening.
  • Amend the earthworks control to include a volume (m3) control as well as an area (m2) and slope control. Reduce the amount of earthworks permitted as of right on small sites.
  • Require fill to be kept on site (where possible).

2.0 Outstanding natural landscapes

  • Identify and protect any outstanding natural landscapes that have not been recognised in the ARC plan change 8. For example:
    • Mt Maunganui - upper slopes
    • Te Matuku Bay
    • Awaawaroa Bay - anomalies
    • Owhanake
    • Palm Beach (eastern) - Thompsons Point (part is in pc8) - Ballysaggart farm
    • coastal cliffs.
  • Protect outstanding natural landscapes from inappropriate subdivision or development. There is some feeling that further subdivision should not be permitted in such special areas. However it is also recognised that with careful management and control, subdivision can result in landscape benefits over time eg by providing public access (walkways), planting (eco-sourced) and weed control.
  • Ensure strict controls about the colour / form / scale / size of buildings in outstanding natural landscapes.
  • Assess subdivision in such areas as a whole, with building platforms being designated as part of the subdivision approval. Consideration should be given to determining in broad terms the appropriate house design for each designated building platform.
  • Consider a viewshaft control to protect some views from intrusion by trees and buildings. In particular, the following views warrant protection:
    • Rangitoto Island as viewed going down Ocean View Road to Matiatia
    • Piemelon Bay as viewed from Belle Terrace, Onetangi
    • Cory Road point as viewed over the lookout
    • Putiki Bay as viewed from past the old dump, at the bend where the horse riding is
    • Onetangi Bay, as viewed over the Sands, going down Sea View Road into Onetangi
    • Watsons Bay, as viewed over Whakanawha
    • Palm Beach, as viewed from Tiri View Road

3.0 Coastal

  • Formulate a colour range which is suitable for coastal locations.
  • Ensure that public access (walkways and boat access) to coastal locations is gained when subdivision occurs.

4.0 Ridgelines (and catchments)

  • Amend or replace the existing ridgeline control with a control which is easier to administer and assess.
  • Consider a contour approach (eg as suggested by Phil Blackwood).
  • Consider the question of viewpoint when formulating ridgeline controls.
  • Identify and protect a significant ridgeline at Margaret Reeve Lane.
  • Consider the effects of windpower generation, and network utilities (when located on ridgelines). There were significant differences of opinion within the group about the appropriateness of introducing wind generation to the island, particularly if the turbines are located on the ridgeline. Views within the group ranged from strongly opposed to supportive. One group member thought that potential windfarm sites should be considered and identified at this stage.

5.0 Colour / form / scale / size of buildings

  • Include appropriate controls on the colour / form / scale / size of buildings in appropriate land units.
  • Consider the proximity (closeness) of buildings to each other.
  • Improve assessment criteria.
  • Colour:
    • Replace the Heath document (Colour for Structures in the Landscape) with a colour range which is suitable for Waiheke
    • Define a different colour range for coastal locations as compared with inland rural locations, and bush. Pay careful attention to how colours appear when viewed from the sea
    • Control colour in coastal, bush residential and some rural locations. Colour controls are not required in land unit 11 (unless in a coastal location), or in industrial or commercial location
    • For bush locations, the colours used need to be recessive so that the bush, rather than the buildings, dominate
    • For coastal locations, the colours used need to be neutral and non-dominant
    • Ensure that the colour controls allow for the Waiheke vernacular where appropriate eg red woolsheds and white boatsheds.
    • Amend the wording in the Plan where it refers to requirement for the scale, form, finish and location of buildings to be complementary to the landscape. 'Complementary' is not the correct word. More precise wording is required.
    • Require all power reticulation to be underground.

6.0 Vegetation

Weed control

  • Ensure that the council, as landowner, leads by example and takes responsibility for keeping its own land (including road reserves) weed free.
  • Require weed control where subdivision and development occurs. Continue to require covenanting of bush and associated weed management as a condition on subdivision consents.
  • Include stronger objectives in the Plan about weed control.
  • Ensure that where the Plan contains a list of suggested resource consent conditions, that this list includes weed control as a mitigation measure.
  • Consider how the council can assist with the disposal of noxious weeds that are rejected by the transfer station (eg pampas, bamboo, flax, moth plant pods, phoenix palms, ginger root, wandering jew)
  • Educate landowners to take responsibility for controlling weeds on their property

Protection of large exotic trees

  • Include general tree protection controls for exotic trees, similar to those included in the Isthmus Plan. This is in addition to existing native tree controls.
  • It is noted however that large exotic trees can be inappropriate in areas of native bush and this needs to be taken into account when drafting the rule and the assessment criteria for general tree protection. Also, if an exotic tree is removed, it should be replaced by native species.

Ecosourcing

  • Require ecosourced planting where subdivision and development occurs
  • Educate people about the importance of ecosourcing and the need to order in advance where large number of plants are required.
  • Require a code of compliance for resource consent conditions especially planting. This could require a certified arborist to verify ecosourcing of plants.

Vegetation clearance

  • Re-evaluate the 300m2 clearance control. Ensure that it allows for building footprint, driveway and water tanks. Consider relationship between lot coverage and permitted vegetation clearance.

7.0 Walkways

  • Ensure that public access (walkways) is gained when subdivision occurs. Coastal access is particularly important and includes consideration of boat as well as pedestrian access. Only prevent public access to the coast where ecological or safety issues are proven.
  • Refer gaps in public access to council's Recreation and Community Services Group and Community Planning Group for consideration.
  • Identify all existing walkways, including esplanade reserves, and public reserves. Ensure this information is shown on a map of Waiheke which is available at the council service centre (at Waiheke)
  • Include a proactive policy statement about the need to protect and promote Waiheke walkways and prevent encroachment on them by adjacent landowners
  • Require esplanade reserves rather than esplanade strips. Council ownership (via an esplanade reserve) is to be preferred to reliance on a private landowner to allow public access (as occurs with an esplanade strip)
  • Include clear assessment criteria in the Plan relating to reserve contributions and subdivisions so as to achieve a consistent approach.

8.0 Other

  • Recommend to the Waiheke community board that all new Waiheke landowners be provided with a welcome pack. This should include information about:
    • Weed control
    • Vegetation controls
    • Ecosourcing
    • Responsibilities for maintaining the road frontage (ie the grass verge)
    • Bylaws relating to septic tanks.