4.1.1 Development Plan

Prior to the establishment of plantation and conservation forestry blocks a Development Plan of the land area involved showing the location of all access roads, firebreaks and harvest areas that relate to natural features or topographical boundaries shall be lodged with Council for information. The Applicant shall have regard to the New Zealand Forest Code of Practice (Second Edition) 1993.

4.1.2 Replanting of Plantation Forestry within the Kaitiaki Zone

Replanting of plantation forest within the Kaitiaki (Conservation) Zone is permitted subject to the following standards:

1. Land subject to harvest shall be replanted in plantation forest or native species within one year, or otherwise left to regenerate to native species, if this can be achieved without causing significant advese effects.
2. All existing overland flow paths, debris flow paths and stormwater detention areas shall remain functional to avoid, remedy or mitigate natural hazards. Persons replanting any area shall notify Council of any new mechanisms used to manage the risks of exacerbating natural hazards.
3. Where areas are to be replanted it shall not increase the risk of land instability and the effects of peak stormwater flows.
4. All remnant areas of native vegetation that are practical to retain shall not be cleared or over-planted with plantation forestry crops.
5. No replanting shall be undertaken within 10 metres of a natural perennially flowing stream.
6. Where practical areas that are to be replanted should be contour planted, that is the rows of trees should follow the contours, not run up and down the slope.

Non-compliance with the above standards will require a restricted discretionary resource consent application to be made where the above matters will be considered and where Council may grant or refuse the consent and impose conditions of consent.

Explanation

Whilst it is recognised that production forestry is a legitimate rural activity, the effects of maintaining and harvesting the forest are likely to have significant off-site impacts. A Development Plan of the forest is required by Council for information purposes to enable the public to see what such impacts may be. The most significant impact is likely to be on the District’s roads and a roading contribution may be required to ensure that the roading network is not adversely affected by this additional impact.

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