Te Huruhi Reserve management plan

Contents | Introduction | Visual and amenity values | Recreation and use | Access and circulation | Buildings, structures and furniture | Natural values | Administration and management | Appendices

Appendix 1: District Plan provisions for Land Unit 17 - Landscape amenity

6.17.0  Description

Land Unit 17 applies to neighbourhood reserves and esplanade reserves. These reserve areas occur mainly throughout the Western Waiheke SMA and form a substantial and important community asset. 

6.17.1  Resource management issues

• Protection of public open space for amenity and recreational values.
• Protection of coastal edge and habitats, ecological systems and flora and fauna therein.
• Maintaining and expanding passive recreation areas in proximity to urban development.
• Reduction of visual impacts from buildings and land use activity.
• Protecting heritage values and ensuring adequate access to the land unit, where appropriate, to enjoy such values.
• Securing an integrated network or reserves, walkways and accessways to create wider opportunities for enjoyment by the public of the coastal environment.
• Provision for appropriate public access such as bridlepaths and cycleways and associated signage.

6.17.2  Resource management strategy

The resource management strategy for Land Unit 17 is to ensure the protection of the natural characteristics of land within the land unit in order to protect coastal edges and the natural environment. The emphasis of the strategy is based upon a recognition of the community importance of smaller areas of natural landscape and the main outcome sought through the strategy is the preservation of natural areas, achieved through limiting use opportunities. In addition the opportunities for any buildings to be erected or works to be carried out within the land unit that may conflict with the strategy are limited by rules specific to the land unit.

6.17.3  Objectives and policies

6.17.3.1  Objective

To provide for the management and protection of public open space for passive recreation.

Policies:

1. By limiting the use and development of the land unit.
2. By protecting and conserving all native trees, and bush, wetlands, habitats, and other natural features.
3. By protecting those landforms contained within the land unit.
4. By seeking to maintain and expand public access to the coastline.

6.17.3.2  Objective

To limit buildings and land use activities within the land unit.

Policies:

1. By controlling the number and location of buildings.
2. By controlling the design and appearance of buildings.
3. By limiting land use activities to those allied to the protection and enjoyment of the natural environment.

6.17.4  Land unit rules

6.17.4.1  Permitted activites

1. General rules
   Any activity shall be a permitted activity where it:
   1. Conforms to the standards and terms contained in Part 6B,
   2. except where it has been otherwise provided for in the rules for this land as a controlled, discretionary or prohibited activity.
   3. Meets the requirements of Rule 6.17.4.1B below.
      
2. Particular rules
   1. Any use of land or buildings must be consistent with any operative management plan pursuant to the Reserves Act 1977 or the Conservation Act 1987.

6.17.4.2   Controlled activites

1. General rules
   Application must be made for a resource consent for a controlled activity under the following circumstances:
   1. Where it is proposed to erect, alter or add to any building(s).
   2. Where required by the rules for Policy Area 5 (Oneroa) and Policy Area 6 (Onetangi), (see Part 7).
      
2. Particular rules
   1. Any building shall meet all those standards and terms contained in Part 6B.
      
3. Controlled activity area
   The Council shall give consideration to the following criteria in assessing an application for a controlled activity:
   1. All existing native bush, or other vegetation which contributes to visual amenity shall be retained, except where it is necessary to remove vegetation to create a building platform, or where sufficient landscape planting of appropriate species is provided to ensure that buildings are integrated with the existing natural character of the surrounding landscape.
   2. Any earthworks necessary for the creation of building platforms or access shall be such that they create minimum disturbance to the landform and character of the area.
   3. Any driveway, parking and turning areas shall be constructed in a manner which requires minimal disturbance to existing landform or vegetation. Generally, any driveway should have a gradient of less than 1 in 6.
   4. The exterior finish of proposed buildings shall be complementary to those which are found in the surrounding natural landscape.
   5. Note: Reference will be made to the document Colour for Structures in the Landscape: Author Heath, T. for the interpretation of this criterion, (available at Auckland City Council Offices).
   6. The scale and form of proposed buildings shall be such that they are integrated with and complementary to forms in the surrounding natural landscape.
   7. Development proposals shall ensure that any runoff or stormwater resulting from the development does not lead to siltation or sedimentation or a reduction in water quality in natural watercourses.
   8. Any extension or alteration to an existing building shall:
      1. comply with (d) and (e) above,
      2. be sympathetic to the design and external appearance of the existing building.
         
4. Controlled activity conditions
   In granting consent to a controlled activity the Council may impose conditions relating to any or all of the following matters:
   1. The removal or retention of vegetation.
   2. Landscaping.
   3. Drainage and effluent disposal.
   4. The screening of buildings, yards or vehicle parking and manoeuvring areas.
   5. The orientation, cladding, scale, form and colour of buildings.
   6. Location of buildings on a site.
   7. The height of buildings.
   8. The location and construction of vehicle entry, egress, manoeuvring and parking.
   9. The orientation of pedestrian areas.

6.17.4.3  Discretionary activities

1. General rules
   Application must be made for a resource consent for a discretionary activity under the following circumstances:
   1. Where it is proposed to vary any of the standards or terms for permitted activities contained in Part 6B or;
   2. Where an activity is listed in Rule 6.17.4.3.B below or;
   3. Where consent to subdivide land to create a lot pursuant to the rules contained in Part 8 of this Plan is sought.
   4. Any use of land or buildings where there is no operative management plan pursuant to the Reserves Act 1977 or the Conservation Act 1987.
      
2. Listed discretionary activities
   1. Community Facilities
      The above activities are automatically discretionary activities as they need particular assessment in this land unit because of potential effects.
      
3. Consideration of applications
   1. An application for a discretionary activity will be assessed in terms of the criteria contained in Part 6E and in the case of a listed discretionary activity, in terms of Part 6F as well, and;
   2. An application for a discretionary activity may only be granted to vary the standards contained in Part 6C unless otherwise provided for elsewhere in the Plan, and;
   3. Where consent for a discretionary activity is sought in terms of more than one of the provisions of Rule 6.17.4.3.A the Council will consider applications together, and;
   4. Any standard or term in Part 6F shall prevail over a parallel standard or term in Part 6C.

6.17.5  Other requirements and information

The information and requirements outlined in Parts 6B-6G must be referred to prior to making an application for any resource consent.

6.17.6  Subdivision

The rules for subdivision are contained in Part 8 of the Plan.

6.17.7  Heritage

The rules relating to heritage protection are contained in Part 10 of the Plan.