Controlled activities

These are activities that require a resource consent which the council must approve, but can put conditions on the consent.

Delineation

“Marking out” or drawing a line, this term is used to describe the boundary of a particular land unit.

Discretionary activities

These are activities that require a resource consent which council can approve or decline, and if they approve the activity, they can put conditions on the consent.

Land units (LU)

Great Barrier is separated into smaller units for the purpose of forming rules which control development. 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 clearly distinguished. Land units determine the rules and standards which apply together with the criteria for assessment of resource consent and subdivision consent applications.

Non-complying activities

These are activities that are not provided for or are activities that contravene the district plan that are not otherwise permitted, controlled or discretionary activities. Council can approve or decline a resource consent for a non-complying activity, and if they approve it, can place conditions on the consent.

Objective

Describes the intended outcomes as a result of the rules and policies.

Outstanding natural landscape

An outstanding natural landscape is one that is considered as being of national or regional significance, and contains features that make it special when compared other landscapes. The reference to natural does not require it to be unmodified by humans.

The Resource Management Act requires outstanding natural landscapes and features to be protected from inappropriate development.

Permitted activities

These are activities which can be undertaken without a resource consent.

Policy

Describes the way in which council will consider various aspects of a proposal.

Policy areas

Policy areas apply to a number of locations which exhibit a need for a more pronounced strategic approach to resource management in addition to the use of strategic management areas and land units. Policy areas provide additional objectives, policies and rules to be considered during the consent process.

These are sometimes called structure plans by other councils.

Prohibited activities

This is an activity for which no-one is allowed to apply for a resource or subdivision consent.

Resource consent

A resource consent allows a person to carry out an activity on land where the use of land is controlled by the District Plan.

Resource Management Act (1991)

The legislation that sets out the way resources are to be managed nationally, regionally and locally. The purpose of the act is to provide for sustainable management.

Rule

A rule sets out the controls or standards that should be complied with for land-use or subdivision activities.

Sensitive area (SA)

These areas are similar to sites of ecological significance, but with slightly less emphasis.

Site of ecological significance (SES)

These are areas that have been identified as having significant plant, wildlife or ecological values.

Strategic management areas (SMA's)

The District Plan divides the district into Strategic Management Areas (SMA's). These identify critical physical, social and development characteristics for each area. Common objectives and policies have been developed for each to provide a basis for management of these areas. The objectives and policies are considered as part of a resource consent, but do not strictly control it.

There are 15 SMAs on Great Barrier including Rakitu (Arid) Island.

Structure plan

A structure plan is a method of controlling and identifying areas that are to be developed in a particular manner. It generally specifies planned locations for activities and may show areas for public use. Refer to Policy Areas.

Subdivision

This term is used to describe the division of an allotment of land into separate titles, but does not include joining together titles. Other forms of subdivision include cross-leases and unit titles.

Sustainable management

This term is used in the Resource Management Act, and it means managing resources in such a way that we provide for social, cultural and economic wellbeing, whilst:

• sustaining the potential of natural and physical resources to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations;
• safeguarding life supporting capacity of air, water, soil and ecosystems; and
• avoiding, remedying or mitigating adverse effects on the environment.