3.1 Natural Environment and Heritage
3.1.1 Significant Resource Management Issues
- Outstanding natural features and resources in the District are threatened by activities that would modify, destroy or compromise their outstanding qualities. The District contains some nationally and regionally outstanding natural features which Council must ensure are protected from adverse effects. In the majority of cases areas such as the Kopuatai Peat Dome and the Kaimai-Mamaku Ranges are held as reserve or in public ownership. The challenge for the District Plan is to ensure protection by managing activities with adverse effects in and adjacent to these areas and to ensure protection of outstanding natural resources in private ownership. A land use issue is the use of land for farming, growing or running animals near outstanding natural features where the escape or release of the species could adversely affect the sustainable management of the features and their biodiversity.
- The intrinsic values of particularly sensitive ecosystems may be compromised through unlimited or uncontrolled public access to those ecosystems. The enthusiasm of the public to enjoy a significant feature can often lead to the feature deteriorating and losing its values. Wetlands, forests and waterways are important to the tangata whenua as traditional areas for kai (food supply), taonga rongoa (medicine) and taonga ruranga (weaving).
- There has been a significant loss of indigenous vegetation, habitats of indigenous fauna, and of indigenous species as a result of development. Most unprotected areas of indigenous vegetation or habitats are natural resources of the District which are losing abundance and diversity of native species.
- Development pressure can lead to the loss of many urban trees which have historical and visual significance. Trees on public reserves can be equally significant as those on private property and under equal pressure from development of public facilities. Urban trees significantly enhance the amenity of local areas, for instance Matamata’s trees make an outstanding contribution to the appearance of the town. However mature trees are vulnerable to development decisions and the encouragement of urban consolidation may create additional pressure to remove existing trees.
- Inappropriate clearance of trees near waterways may adversely affect water and soil conservation. Such an activity is also likely to adversely affect the natural values of aquatic and riparian ecosystems by the direct removal of habitat or alteration of habitat, or the restriction of wildlife movement by damaging wildlife corridors. Stock grazing and clearance for pasture may threaten the viability of and make more vulnerable, native trees which are a noted landscape characteristic of the District.
- The loss of trees near waterways adversely affects water and soil conservation. Such an activity is also likely to adversely affect the natural values of aquatic and riparian ecosystems by the direct removal of habitat or alteration of habitat, or the restriction of wildlife movement by damaging wildlife corridors. Stock grazing and pasture clearance can threaten the viability of stands of native trees which are a noted landscape characteristic of the District.
- The loss of the District’s heritage due to inappropriate development, use, neglect or destruction. Many heritage resources and values are sensitive to change. With redevelopment, buildings and places of historic importance can be lost or other special features destroyed. Archaeological sites are particularly vulnerable because they are often unrecorded and not easily identified. It is important that places and buildings which contribute to the District’s heritage resource be recorded and conserved or protected as they provide a special identity and unique sense of place.
- Most wetlands and many rivers and their margins have been adversely affected by inappropriate development and use. Natural character, natural processes and ecosystems have been modified. However, the Waihou and some tributaries provide significant habitat for trout and it is important that these are protected from inappropriate use and development.
- The ecological processes and indigenous biodiversity are being adversely affected by use, development and subdivision.
3.1.2 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE |
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| Outcome Sought (Objectives) |
Solutions (Policies) |
Implementation (Methods) Refer to the following sets of controls and reasons for chosen methods |
Explanations and Reasons for Objectives and Policies |
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| 1. | LANDSCAPE CHARACTER | ||||
| O1 | To retain and enhance the varied landscape qualities of the District. | P1 | The scale, location and design of buildings, structures and activities in outstanding landscape types of the District should:
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RMA requires Council to recognise and provide for the protection of outstanding landscapes from inappropriate subdivision use or development [S6(b)] as a matter of national importance. Council is aware of adverse visual effects caused by inappropriately located activities which intrude or dominate the landscape. It is also recognised that certain landscapes are particularly sensitive to change and others are more able to absorb change or development. Policy P1 recognises the intrinsic values of the significant landscape types of the District and is designed to minimise the effect of activities located in environmentally and visually sensitive areas. Council wishes to take a pro-active role in improving the general amenity of the District and the planting of trees is seen as an effective means of achieving this aim. Accordingly, Policies SP1 and SP2 advocate public tree planting programmes and encourage private landowners to assume responsibility for enhancing landscape features. Council recognises that to prevent the replanting of existing plantation forests in exotic species on visual grounds alone may render the land incapable of reasonable use and may place an unfair and unreasonable burden on the landowner. |
| O2 | To recognise the community desire to return areas in exotic vegetation in the Kaitiaki Zone within the Kaimai Ranges to indigenous cover. | P2 | Where a resource consent concerning exotic vegetation is required in the Kaitiaki Zone, Council will consult with the community under the Local Government Act 2002 about the methods of achieving objectives 1 and 2 including the purchase of land in accordance with section 13.3.8. | ||
| SP1 | Council will enhance the general landscape of the District by implementing a tree planting programme. | ||||
| SP2 | Council will encourage landowners to plant trees which reflect the native character of the ecological district. | ||||
| ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL RESULTS 1. Visual amenity of significant landscape areas is unchanged or improved [typical performance measure : area of land disturbed by visually obtrusive activities or uses]. 2. Increase in number of trees planted in the District by Council and private landowners. |
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| 2. | NATURAL ENVIRONMENT | ||||
| O1 | To protect and enhance the natural resources within the District that are valued for their intrinsic, scientific, educational and recreational values. | P1 | Recreational use of wetlands and bush and the surface of rivers and streams will be allowed where such use is consistent with the conservation objectives of that area. Council may exclude access to some areas of high ecological quality. |
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Little of the natural environment remains unchanged by human occupation.. Areas of the natural environment that exist require protection because of their scarcity or their value as representative examples of particular ecosystems and landscapes. Preservation of the natural character of the wetlands, rivers and their margins is a matter of national importance. The Kopuatai Peat Dome is the largest peat dome in the country and contains at least six threatened plants, the locally threatened North Island fernbird, a number of important fish species and has international significance as a waterfowl habitat wetland. Council acknowledges the Dome is part of our vanishing natural heritage. The Peat Dome is very vulnerable to change and parts of this wetland remain unprotected. The margins of the Dome are affected by land drainage practices, grazing, maize cropping and peat mining. Council considers it important that this wetland be protected and managed in a sustainable manner. Other smaller wetlands exist through the District and Council wishes to retain as many examples of the District's wetlands, for environmental and botanical reasons. RMA requires council to have particular regard to the maintenance and enhancement of amenity values and the quality of the environment and the finite characteristics of natural and physical resources Policies recognise that the natural environment is vulnerable to insensitive uses and development which may generate adverse effects. These policies give a higher level of protection to certain areas of the district in recognition of their regional, national and international significance and their vulnerability. |
| P2 | To avoid, remedy or mitigate the adverse effects of activities that have the potential to compromise, damage or destroy significant areas of indigenous vegetation and habitats of indigenous fauna. | ||||
| P3 | Outstanding natural features, areas of indigenous vegetation or habitats of indigenous fauna are to be permanently protected at the time of subdivision, use and development. | ||||
| P4 | To maintain and enhance ecosystems with their essential values and qualities. | ||||
| SP1 | Council will encourage landowners to permanently protect natural features, trees and vegetation provisions. | ||||
| SP2 | To encourage a “conservation” education programme in conjunction with other agencies for targeted groups such as farmers, schools, tangata whenua. This programme may be developed in consultation with these groups. | ||||
| SP3 | Council may, where it considers necessary acquire land to protect threatened outstanding natural features. | Council recognises conflicting demands on the environment may result in natural features being damaged or destroyed. A regulatory approach is adopted to control activities as one method of ensuring their long term protection. Policies SP1 and SP2 will, through the Strategic Plan, enable Council to use voluntary incentives and educational programmes to encourage public support and “ownership” of the need for protection. Information empowers landowners to make informed decisions and results in a greater understanding of the need for protection of particular natural features or resources by the Community. Policy SP3 provides Council with the option, where the cost can be justified, of using public ownership it ensures permanent protection for outstanding natural features. Inappropriate subdivision, use or development can then be prohibited and the development of more sympathetic activities permitted, if these were sensitive to the character and intrinsic values of the District’s outstanding natural features. A “partnership” in the wider community in protecting the tree resources of the district is sought by Council to encourage community acceptance and support for tree protection. A regulatory approach is considered essential to provide certain protection from the adverse effects of inappropriate subdivision, use or development. |
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| SP4 | Council will advocate and promote the voluntary protection of individual trees or stands of trees. | ||||
| SP5 | Council will advocate that the Regional Council investigate the hydrological dynamics of the Kopuatai Peat Dome with a view to reviewing catchment policies on drainage, water quality and erosion control where necessary. | ||||
| SP6 | Council will actively support the preparation of a management plan for the Kopuatai Peat Dome and land uses in the vicinity | ||||
| Through Policies SP5 and SP6 council advocates further investigations into the natural functioning of wetland ecosystems. This approach will enable Council to make more informed decisions on activities near wetlands while enabling to consider the effectiveness of present policies and methods relating to wetlands. Under Policy SP6 the preparation of a management plan for the Kopuatai Peat Dome is strongly recommended by Council to ensure the long term sustainability of the wetland. Issues such as recreational use of the wetlands, drainage for agricultural purposes is a need to be debated in more detail in a forum such as a management plan process |
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ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL RESULTS
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| 3 | HERITAGE | Policy 1 recognises that the integrity of heritage resources can be threatened by inappropriate development. Where heritage resources are located closely together in an area, it is not only the buildings that warrant protection but also the spaces, structures and sites which surround them. In these situations steps must be undertaken to ensure activities and development within these areas do not detract from the unique character of particular heritage resources.
Policy P2 recognises that parts of Te Aroha have a unique character which requires a broad unifying approach to control the use and management of public and privately owned properties to maintain and enhance the character to the whole area. Council believes the adoption of historic resources for new uses may encourage their conservation, provided controls to protect their inherent qualities and characteristics are implemented.
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| O1 | To recognise, protect and enhance significant heritage resources which are valued as part of the District’s heritage. | P1 | Activities in the vicinity of significant heritage resources should be sensitive to their original form and features. |
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| P2 | Activities in the Victorian/ Edwardian areas of Te Aroha should be managed in such a way as to ensure their distinctive heritage character is fostered and enhanced. | ||||
| P3 | Use or refurbishment of heritage resources will be encouraged provided it does not give rise to the damage or destruction of these resources or any of their valued features. | ||||
| P4 | Activities which adversely affect significant recorded archaeological sites and waahi tapu should be avoided, remedied or mitigated | ||||
| P5 | To actively encourage Iwi to participate in the protection of all their heritage resources | ||||
| P6 | To facilitate greater public awareness and appreciation of heritage resources and the statutory protection afforded them and the limits of that statutory protection. | ||||
| SP1 | To support initiatives which seek to encourage alternative means of protection, such as financial incentives or technical assistance | Policy P4 seeks to avoid the accidental or deliberate damage to Maori heritage resources. Policy P5 seeks to encourage Iwi to manage the protection of highly sensitive sites which are not publicly recorded. Council recognises the need for greater Maori control over Maori heritage resources and will consider at any time Iwi initiatives to schedule sites and resources Through Policy P6 Council wishes to encourage owners to protect and retain historic resources by providing opportunities to assist owners to restore, refurbish or retain historic resources. |
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| SP2 | To encourage the refurbishment or use of historic resources while ensuring that their valued features are not impaired or destroyed | ||||
| SP3 | To consult with key agencies such as iwi, NZHPT to develop a tourism strategy which is sensitive to tangata whenua requirements and the integrity of historic resources | ||||
| SP4 | Council may, where it considers it necessary, purchase important heritage resources. The primary responsibility and opportunities however rests with the owner or future owner(s). | ||||
| SP5 | To increase public awareness of the value of its historic resources through public education programmes and by setting a good example. | ||||
| SP6 | To develop a cultural heritage strategy to coordinate data collection and evaluation. | ||||
ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL RESULTS
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