Natural Environment Values

Please read the full chapter before giving us your feedback

What are the key issues we need to think about?

New Zealand’s indigenous biodiversity evolution is exceptional and unique. However, it has been adversely affected by a variety of human activities. Waitaki’s remaining indigenous biodiversity is fragmented and indigenous species continue to decline.

The main threats to indigenous biodiversity in the district are from indigenous vegetation clearance, earthworks, expansion and intensification of pastoral activities, the spread of wilding conifers and climate change.

What are we suggesting in the Draft District Plan?

We have undertaken surveys to identify Significant Natural Areas (SNA) and these have been mapped. Some SNAs remain unmapped but we still need to provide protection for these areas. In addition to the regulatory methods being considered, WDC also provides incentives, education and advocation for the protection, maintenance and enhancement of biodiversity through the Biodiversity Fund and the employment of a specialist Biodiversity Advisor.

The key objective of the chapter is to halt the decline of the district’s indigenous biodiversity by protecting, restoring and/or enhancing SNAs to ensure that there is no net loss of indigenous biodiversity as a result of land use activities. SNAs are protected from inappropriate earthworks and indigenous vegetation clearance. Areas adjoining SNAs are also protected from the planting of exotic species. The chapter also recognises the role of mana whenua as kaitiaki of indigenous biodiversity within their role, providing for mana whenua involvement in the management of indigenous biodiversity and ensuring that Hutia te Rito (health and wellbeing of our environment, its ecosystems and unique indigenous plants and animals) is recognised and provided for.

Key changes from the current rules

• SNAs have been mapped.
• Updated objectives and policies to support the protection of indigenous biodiversity and recognition of the threats and risks to SNAs.
• Support for the maintenance, restoration and enhancement of indigenous biodiversity through landowner engagement, incentives, education and enabling activities that improve biodiversity values.
• Recognition of the impacts of climate change on indigenous biodiversity.
• Recognition of the role of mana whenua as kaitiaki of indigenous biodiversity within their role
  
  

What does it mean for me?

Any lawfully established existing businesses or activities have what is referred to as ‘existing use rights’ and could continue to operate unchanged.

If your property has an identified Significant Natural Area, this would generally not affect you unless you were proposing to undertake activities that could damage the values of the site. This could include large new buildings, exotic tree planting, agricultural intensification (including irrigation), indigenous vegetation clearance, earthworks, mining or quarrying. For these activities, a resource consent would likely be needed.

Please read the full chapter before giving us your feedback

What are the key issues we need to think about?

 The Natural Character chapter applies to activities that take place on riparian margins. Riparian margins often have a high level of natural character and provide important habitats for plants and wildlife.

New development and structures can detract from the natural character of riparian margins. Earthworks or the removal of indigenous vegetation from riparian margins can damage natural character, water quality, habitats, erosion and flood protection.

What are we suggesting in the Draft District Plan?

Riparian margins are defined as land within 20m (in the General Rural Zone) or 10m (in other zones) of the bed of a river or lake, or the edge of a wetland.

The provisions included in this chapter seek to protect riparian margins from inappropriate activities that could adversely affect their natural character.

The key objective of this chapter is to preserve the natural character of the district’s riparian margins and avoid subdivision and development within them. There is also an emphasis on restoring and enhancing degraded riparian margins.

Key changes from the current rules

• This is a new chapter in the District Plan
• The new provisions would allow for some activities such as parks furniture, post and wire fences and hazard mitigation activities on riparian margins to take place without needing a resource consent.
  
  

What does it mean for me?

Any lawfully established existing businesses or activities would have what is referred to as ‘existing use rights’ and could continue to operate unchanged.

Activities such as new buildings or vegetation clearance undertaken in riparian margins would require a resource consent if they were not carried out by Councils or do not meet certain standards. Vegetation clearance for the repair and maintenance of existing and lawfully established tracks, yards, irrigation infrastructure, fences etc would not need a resource consent.

Planting indigenous vegetation which preserves legal access to the river, lake, or wetland would be a permitted activity. All other activities would require a resource consent.

Please read the full chapter before giving us your feedback

What are the key issues we need to think about?

The natural character of the Waitaki landscape has changed in recent years as a result of development pressures, plantation forestry, carbon forestry and intensive farming.

Irrigation activities in the mid-upper Waitaki Valley have changed the look of the landscape, reducing the natural character of these areas.

Regional policy identifies large areas and different parts of the Waitaki landscape that should be identified and included as Outstanding Natural Landscape.

What are we suggesting in the Draft District Plan?

To provide clarity around the importance of the district’s landscapes and features, parts of the district have been classified as:

1. Outstanding Natural Landscapes and Outstanding Natural Features, the protection of which is a matter of national importance under the RMA; and
2. Rural Scenic Landscapes and Significant Natural Features, which are of local importance to the district and are sometimes termed ‘amenity landscapes’.

The following areas are mapped as overlays:

• Outstanding Natural Landscapes (ONL)
• Outstanding Natural Features (ONF)
• Significant Natural Features (SNF)
• Rural Scenic Landscapes (RSL)

The draft overlays can be viewed at our Web map page. 

The key objective of the chapter is to protect these areas from inappropriate subdivision, use and development.

ONLs and ONFs are provided with the most protection. Buildings and structures typically require a resource consent. Earthworks are permitted for the maintenance of a range of farm tracks and structures, but all other earthworks will require a resource consent. Plantation forestry, carbon forestry, intensive farming and planting of wilding conifer species are prohibited activities within the ONL and ONF. SNFs and RSLs have fewer restrictions than ONLs/ONFs, however resource consent may still be required for some land uses.

Key changes from the current rules

• Earthworks for activities, other than the repair or maintenance of tracks etc, would require a resource consent in RSLs.
• Fences, other than post and wire or post and rail, or that are more than 2.0m high, would require a resource consent in the ONL/ONF/ SNF.
• Agricultural intensification and quarrying within an ONL/ONF/SNF/RSL would require a resource consent.
• Plantation forestry, carbon forestry, intensive farming and planting of wilding conifer species would be prohibited activities in the ONL and ONF.
  
  

What does it mean for me?

Any lawfully established existing businesses or activities would have what is referred to as ‘existing use rights’ and could continue to operate unchanged.

If your property has been identified as being located within an ONL/ONF/SNF/RSL this would generally not affect you unless you were proposing to undertake new activities that could damage the values of the area. This could include large new buildings, some types of farming activities, exotic tree planting, earthworks, mining or quarrying. For these activities, a resource consent may be needed.

Please read the full chapter before giving us your feedback

What are the key issues we need to think about? 

The Waitaki district has approximately 90 kilometres of coastline and also contains many significant waterbodies. These waterbodies all provide important recreational opportunities for the local community and general public. We need to ensure that public and customary access to and along the coast, rivers and lake is protected when new development occurs and that where possible new areas of access are provided to these areas.

What are we suggesting in the Draft District Plan?

There are no rules in the draft chapter that relate specifically to public access in its own right, but this is achieved via esplanade reserves, esplanade strips and access strips that are created during the subdivision process. The draft rules in the Subdivision chapter would apply to any new subdivisions being proposed to protect existing access and provide for new public and customary access.

The key objective of the chapter is to protect, maintain, and where practicable, enhance public and customary access along the district’s rivers, lakes and coast.

The Draft District Plan also contains policies to encourage new public access where opportunities arise and the creation of esplanade reserves and strips for priority waterways (listed in a schedule) and for lakes larger than 8 hectares.

Key changes from the current rules

• Priority waterways are identified in the chapter where the creation of esplanade reserves and strips will be sought through new subdivision applications.
• The maintenance and enhancement of public access is given greater emphasis through the objectives and policies.
  
  

What does it mean for me?

If you are proposing a new subdivision next to the coast or a waterway, there would be provisions in place to protect existing public or customary access and you may be required to provide for new public access where practicable.