2.3.1 Residential Growth - Urban Settlements

• Residential development is spreading outside the existing urban boundaries and may compromise natural and physical resource values. The District’s population in the 1986 - 91 period remained relatively constant. However, significant population growth of 5.4% has been experienced in Morrinsville. Medium population projections anticipate a 7% increase of the 1991 population by 2016.

 

Household growth has been significant when compared with population growth. In the three main towns of Te Aroha, Morrinsville and Matamata, there have been 6.0%, 6.6% and 7.3% increases respectively, in the 1986 - 91 period in occupied dwellings (ie. decreased household size). This has implications for the current and future amount of residential land zoned for development. Whilst there are adequate areas of land at Te Aroha and Matamata, more land for residential purposes will be required within the planning terms at Morrinsville. Council will monitor the uptake of sections annually in each township to ensure there is always a minimum of five years growth available to ensure there is adequate choice.


 

Consolidation within existing urban boundaries is required to retain the finite rural land resource, to ensure the life supporting capacity of those soils is not compromised and to provide for the efficient use and development of existing resources.


 

Provided that adverse environmental effects can be avoided, remedied or mitigated under the provisions of this plan then development may occur in areas not currently serviced or where existing services are placed under stress by proposed development. Development in those areas, where provided for, would only be consented to on the basis that the full cost of service delivery is met by the developer.

Given the predicted growth in Morrinsville, Matamata and Te Aroha it is considered that there are appropriate measures in place to ensure that the existing land and infrastructure resources will not be compromised by development in the foreseeable future. Although Waharoa and Waihou may be considered suitable for urban or suburban style development Council is concerned at the potential adverse effects on the environment, the social and economic wellbeing of the community and the finite nature of the land, economic and infrastructure resources that may be brought about by the further provision of services and extended zonings.


• The future use of high quality soils and significant features is in danger of being compromised. The three urban settlements are all located on good quality lands (Classifications I, II and III Land Use Inventory); the exception is the ranges behind Te Aroha which are a significant landscape feature identified for protection from urban encroachment. See Natural Environment: Section 10 and Natural Hazards: Section 11.
  
  Urban encroachment and various activities such as subdivision, use and development in the rural areas can easily compromise the future use of the good quality lands by the placement of hardstand and structures over the ground in a manner that makes future use of the soil difficult to achieve.

2.3.2 Controlling the Adverse Effects of Activities

• The Resource Management Act requires Council to manage the effects of activities rather than attempt to control activities by description, definition or in their own right. If activities have minor effects and are generally compatible, there is no justification for preventing such activities from locating together.
  

   

  Industrial and rural activities should adopt all reasonable measures to internalise effects. In some cases however, all reasonable measures will not sufficiently mitigate the adverse effects of activities on a particular environment. One means of addressing this issue is to utilise zoning. Zones can be established with environmental standards set to reflect the values and environmental outcomes that are sought for each zone. Performance standards are established which should adequately control the effects of activities on that environment. Potential nuisance effects are generated by some industrial and rural activities, but existing activity which is based on significant natural and physical resources of the district can also be adversely affected if new incompatible activities are located in the vicinity of the resource.

 

• The issues of sustainable management of indigenous biodiversity differ across the District. On the intensively developed plains there are small elements which should be managed for their heritage, landscape and natural feature values, or because they offer a tenuous link between those widely scattered relics. Within the District there are a few larger indigenous vegetation and habitat elements of the Kopuatai wetland, extensive rivers and drains, and tracts of native forests surviving on steeper hills. The adverse effects of activities should be controlled and managed to sustain ecological processes and indigenous biodiversity.

2.3.3 Tangata Whenua

• There has been to date limited partnership in the management of the District’s resources and thereby limited recognition in planning rules of the needs of the tangata whenua particularly their desire to return to their lands for housing and employment opportunities.
  

   

  The issues of the tangata whenua include the protection of lands, waters, sites, waahi tapu (sacred sites) and other taonga (treasures) including Mt Te Aroha; the recognition of the Maori environmental ethic and the kaitiaki role (guardianship); greater involvement in local control and decision making; reaching agreement on who is to be consulted and how that consultation will occur; Treaty of Waitangi claims; enhancing channels of communication and consultation; and more flexibility to manage and develop Maori land and natural resources.

2.3.4 Business

• In Council’s opinion service/industrial/commercial areas are similar in terms of their ability to attract relatively high numbers of client and worker vehicles. There can also be adverse visual effects created by extensive advertising of business. Given the similar nature of effects particularly the scale of buildings and traffic generation, Council intends to introduce a new zone which encompasses the former commercial and light industrial zones. Within such areas there shall be no delineation as to where retailing should occur.

 

• Council is supportive of Mainstreet rejuvenation programmes in Te Aroha, Morrinsville and Matamata. There is evidence in the Mainstreet process of a desire to protect and enhance the central shopping street’s character and amenity values as the central focus of retailing and recreation.

 

• The provision of local retail opportunities serving the day-to-day convenience needs of residents in a residential area can strongly influence the attractiveness and functioning of that area and the wellbeing of people.

2.3.5 Industry

• There is a community desire to ensure that adverse environmental effects of industries are managed in the future. The future location and performance of industries is a significant issue to both industry and the community. There is a greater expectation of internalisation of effects by newly established activities than of older existing activities. This is because new activities are not encumbered by existing plant and processes and have easier access to contemporary technology. Precise and workable rules are required to ensure that adverse effects of all industry are appropriately avoided, remedied or mitigated.

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