Plans, policies and reports
The Rakino Way
Introduction | Central
principles | Development strategy | Physical
infrastructure | Social infrastructure | Implementation
and monitoring
Development strategy
Rakino Island is subdivided into four distinct residential areas surrounded
by rural blocks of roughly 4 hectares (10 acres). Whether or not to allow
subdivision, or some form of additional development potential, of these rural
properties has been one of the main topics of debate in the consultation on this
strategy.
Rural land on Rakino is currently zoned Land Unit 20. The subdivision rules
of the Hauraki Gulf Islands
District Plan provide for the
subdivision of Land Unit 20 down to four hectares (which is the current size of
most rural blocks on Rakino).
Further subdivision opportunities for sites of less than four hectares are
allowed where significant environmental features are protected. The Land Unit 20
rules were developed to apply mainly to Waiheke Island where the predominant
significant environmental features of the land unit are bush areas. On Rakino,
the significant environmental features are the coastal cliffs and edge and the
coastal vegetation. A method of securing protection and access to these features
would be to allow the clustering of development in exchange for securing
significant areas of coastal public open space, including coastal walkways. It
is considered that the particular issues of Rakino, including recognition of the
coastal edge and the inland rural areas, would be better addressed through a
customised land unit to replace Land Unit 20. Auckland City will develop this
approach, in consultation with the Rakino community.
Development opportunities
The district plan rules currently enable a range of development opportunities
on the island such as visitor facilities, subject to the relevant council
approvals.
Residential development potential
As at November 1999 there were 162l sites classified as Land Unit 11
(traditional residential) on Rakino, 66 of which were vacant. Auckland
Regional Council projections using the national census data show that the vacant
lots on Rakino Island will not be fully developed until well beyond the year
2026. However as coastal properties in the inner Hauraki Gulf are highly sought
after, the vacant sites may be fully developed earlier than 2026.
While recognising that not all the remaining vacant Land Unit 11 sites are
physically suitable for development, the current stock should be sufficient to
meet the predicted growth requirements for the foreseeable future. However, if
the take up of these sites occurs faster than expected over time, Auckland
City's growth management policy will be to consult with the community and other
interested agencies such as the Auckland Regional Council to determine the best
management approach. Different options to accommodate growth should be examined
to determine the best mechanism for balancing development against the protection
of Rakino's special character.
Residential/rural activity interface issues
Conflict between residential/rural activities can arise where the rural
activities generate noise and spray drift. In developing a customised land unit
for Rakino these interface issues will need to be addressed
Aim
To manage future growth in a manner that maintains the special environment
and rural and coastal character of the island.
Explanation
Rakino Island offers a special natural environment, landscape, lifestyle and
visitor experience. Future development on the island must be managed to ensure
that this environment is enhanced.
Key strategies and actions
Auckland City currently:
- maintains the current extent of the boundaries of residential land (Land
Unit 11)
- limits the minimum lot size for residential lots to 2000m2
- provides subdivision rules in the district plan that allow subdivision
opportunities for rural land on Rakino Island where it requires complete
protection of a significant environmental feature.
Auckland City will:
- in due course as part of its district plan development, promote a new
district plan land unit customised for Rakino Island (replacing the
existing Land Unit 20). This will provide appropriate development
opportunities while ensuring adequate protection/enhancement of Rakino's
special rural and coastal island character
- regularly monitor growth and development on Rakino Island and regularly
update the strategy for the island
- liaise with Auckland Regional Council to produce advice on rural/residential interface issues
such as spraydrift.
Published February 2003
