(last updated 26 February 2010)
Background and History
The Taupo District has some of the most outstanding scenery in New Zealand, and some of the best examples of indigenous vegetation. This is largely due to a combination of ancient volcanic formations, complex mountain ranges, flat open frost flats, expansive fresh water lakes, and expansive un-built areas.
The Taupo District Plan, as part of its functions, addresses the management of certain activities within Landscape and Natural Value areas. The Landscape Values section of the Plan addresses important and unique landscapes areas, while the Natural Values section addresses native vegetation areas.
Taupo District Council is currently preparing a plan change to these parts of the District Plan in order to identify areas of important Landscape and Natural Value in the Taupo District, and to protect these areas from inappropriate development and use. The plan change will meet Council’s requirement under the Resource Management Act 1991 and an Environment Court direction to undertake this work.
Council began the initial stages of the Landscape and Natural Values project in 2004, and used Consultants to draft technical studies identifying these areas. Initial consultation was undertaken with landowners in respect to natural areas back in 2005. The project was later put on hold in 2006 to allow for an appropriate process and time to consult with iwi.
The natural value provisions of the District Plan are concerned with the identification and protection of significant indigenous vegetation and habitats of indigenous fauna.
Taupo District Council has a duty under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) to provide for the protection of areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna.
Natural Values Background
In 2000 an initial desk based assessment was undertaken by ecologists using specific criteria to identify significant natural areas in the District. This identification involved the reviewing and revision of existing reports conducted by various organisations regarding Significant Natural Areas in the Taupo District. The significant natural areas identified were incorporated into the District Plan. When the Proposed District Plan was notified, a number of appeals were lodged on the natural value provisions. The Environment Court resolved the appeals with a direction for Council to notify new provisions and undertake a new assessment, removing the sites and introducing an interim regulatory rule.
Further assessment of each significant natural area is currently being undertaken to “ground proof” the information. At this stage this “ground proofing” has been by request by landowners who responded to letters sent out in July 2005. An update on the significant natural area study has been sent to all affected landowners, providing them with further opportunity for these landowners to have significant natural areas checked on their property and input into the wider process.
Plan Change Stages
The natural values plan change broadly includes the following stages;
1. Reassessing the District’s natural values based on previous studies, and site investigations, in consultation with affected landowners, Tangata Whenua and local communities.
2. Formulating the provisions in accordance with Section 32 of the RMA.
3. Consulting the draft provisions with affected landowners, strategic partners, key stakeholder groups, and the public.
4. Finalising the provisions.
5. Publicly notifying the provisions for public submissions in accordance with the First Schedule process of the RMA.
Landscape Values Background
Taupo District Council has a duty under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) to provide for the protection of important landscape and natural features from inappropriate use, development, and subdivision.
In 2000 an initial landscape study was undertaken by landscape architect’s using specific criteria to assess the Taupo District’s outstanding and amenity landscapes. This study is used as the basis for the current landscapes identified in the District Plan. When the Proposed District Plan was first notified, a number of appeals were lodged on the landscape provisions. The Environment Court resolved the appeals with a direction for Council to notify new provisions and undertake a new assessment with greater emphasis on public and landowner consultation.
In 2005 a second landscape study was undertaken by landscape architects, which included initial public consultation. This study was then consulted on with Ngati Tuwharetoa. Consultation is now being undertaken with affected landowners, strategic partners and other interest groups including the wider public. This will also include the opportunity for affected landowners to request ‘ground proofing’ of the landscape areas on their property.
Plan Change Stages
The landscape values plan change will include the following stages;
1. Identifying the District’s important landscapes in consultation with local Communities and Tangata Whenua.
2. Informing landowners that will be affected by the plan changes, and where required undertaking further site investigations to ‘ground proof’ landscape areas and discuss this work on site.
3. Formulating draft Plan provisions in accordance with Section 32 of the RMA.
4. Consulting the draft provisions with affected landowners, strategic partners, key stakeholder groups, and the public.
5. Finalising the provisions.
6. Publicly notifying the provisions for public submissions in accordance with the First Schedule process of the RMA.
Consultation Process
In March 2008, Council sent letters to landowners who will be directly affected by the project and other relevant user groups and organisations, to verify these areas and obtain feedback on what appropriate management of these areas might be.
Landowner Involvement
If you are a land owner affected by this Plan Change click HERE to find out more information as to how this work affects you and how you can be involved.
Strategic Partners Forum
The Landscape and Natural Values Strategic Partners Forum (SPF) consists of around 20 people that represent key groups and organisations that have an interest in the landscape and natural areas of the Taupo District. Members of this forum are primarily made up of appellants on the original appeal and/or those groups with a District wide interest in this project. The purpose of the forum is for Council staff to discuss the plan change process and proposed policy direction with the group, and to get feedback and discussion amongst group members. Meetings are facilitated by Bill Wasley an independent chair person, and will be held on a regular basis.
For more information on this forum, including membership and minutes please click HERE.
April 2008 Open Days
A series of ‘open days’ was held by the Council in April 2008, inviting members of the wider Community and public to learn more about the Landscape and Natural Values project and also provide Council with feedback on these areas.
- For more information on the April 2008 Open Days, click HERE.
Council has also contacted other Community groups, local interest groups and ratepayer groups for their feedback and involvement in this work.
Further consultation is planned once Council is further down the track with developing provisions for the Landscape and Natural Value areas. In the meantime, anyone who has an interest in this project is encouraged to contact Council to find out how they can be involved.
Newsletter Updates
Council sent out newsletters to around 1300 affected landowners and interested parties, updating progress on the landscape and natural values plan changes. The newsletters provide an overview of the plan changes, a report on site visits to date, an outline of the proposed policy direction, and the process from here.
- To see the March newsletter, click HERE. ( 881 kb PDF )
- To see the July newsletter update, click HERE. ( 127 kb PDF )
- To see the September newsletter update, click HERE. ( 892 kb PDF )
To return to the Landscape and Natural Values Plan Change overview page, click HERE.
Notification of Plan Change
Plan Change 24 and Variation 25 was notified for public submission on Friday, 19 December 2008. The closing date for submissions was 5.00pm Friday, 27 February 2009.
- Public Notice can be viewed HERE.
- Plan Change 24 and Variation 25 Text can be viewed HERE.
- Plan Change 24 Maps click HERE.
- RMA Section 32 document can be viewed HERE.
- Natural Values report can be viewed HERE. ( 8.55 MB PDF )
- Landscape Values report can be viewed HERE. ( 8.53 MB PDF )
- December Newsletter can be viewed HERE. ( 2.65 MB PDF )
- Submission Form can be viewed HERE, or as a MS Word document HERE.
- Media Release can be viewed HERE.
For information on how to make a submission on a Plan Change or Variation to the District Plan, click HERE.
Submissions Received
87 submissions were received on Plan Change 24 and Variation 25. Full copies of these submissions are available to view via the following link.
Call for Further Submissions
The further submission period was notified on 27 March 2009, and closed on Friday, 24 April 2009 at 5.00pm.
Section 32
The Section 32 report for the Plan Change 24 and 25 is being updated as a result of submissions. The revised section 32 report will be released at the time that decisions are notified to reflect any amendments made as a result of Council decisions. The technical reports that informed the Plan Change are being updated and finalised, as a result of information that has been collected through site visits which took place very recently. Once complete the technical reports will be collated into Volume II of the Section 32 report. As the technical reports inform the officers recommendations, these reports will be made available prior to Hearings. The following volumes of the Section 32 report are available below:
Section 32 Volume I - District Plan Provisions (to be released with Council decisions)
Section 32 Volume II - Supporting Documentation
Running Text
The officer’s recommended amendments to Plan Changes 24 and 25 as a result of submissions are now available to view.
In summary the key recommended changes as a result of submissions are as follows:
Section 3h Landscape Values Objectives and Policies
- Inclusion of the word “inappropriate” in Objective 3h.2.1
- Improved recognition of specific site requirements for some land uses
- Inclusion of policy to better recognise Net Environmental Gain in landscape areas
- Removal of method referring to Value Management Agreements
- Inclusion of new method to recognise the importance of collaboration with landscape orientated groups
Section 3i Natural Values Objectives and Policies
- Removal of 3i.1.1 Significance criteria, to section 32 documentation
- Removal of term ‘voluntary’ from Objectives 3i.2.2 and 3i.3.3
- New policy in respect to facilitating landowners with the long term protection and enhancement of natural values.
- Inclusion of new method to recognise the importance of collaboration with biodiversity orientated groups
- Removal of method referring to Value Management Agreements
- Introduction of new methods in respect to a 5 year review of the effectiveness of regulation and monitoring the provisions
Section 4b.3 Rural Environment Performance Standards
- Addition of new matters of discretion in respect to the need to locate activities within Outstanding Landscape Areas and the consideration of alternatives.
- Removal of reference to, and exception for, Values Management Agreements.
- Addition of new matters of discretion in respect to earthworks in Outstanding Landscape Areas.
- Clarification on the application of the building coverage performance standard for Outstanding Landscape Areas.
Section 4e District Wide Rules
- Removal of reference to, and exception for, Values Management Agreements.
- Moving of exceptions from the notified Discretionary indigenous vegetation clearance rule (4e.6.2) into the Permitted activity rule (4e.6.1).
- Increasing the maximum permitted clearance in a SNA to 300m2.
- Introducing a requirement to provide a map of permitted clearance to Council.
- Recognition of other forestry certification/endorsement schemes.
- Introducing exceptions for Heritage Protection Orders.
- Amending the activity class for indigenous vegetation clearance in a SNA from Discretionary Activity to Restricted Discretionary Activity and introduction of new associated matters of discretion
Officers Reports
The officer’s submission response reports will be made available on line for viewing once completed, and will be posted to submitters. These reports outline the officer’s recommended changes to the plan change and reasons for accepting or not accepting each submission point. These reports have been separated into five volumes as follows:
Hearing
The hearing for Plan Change 24 and 25 to the Taupo District Plan was held from the week starting Tuesday, 27 October 2009, in the Council Chambers of the Taupo District Council, 72 Lake Terrace, Taupo. The hearings committee is currently deliberating the Plan Change and a decision on the Plan Change is due early in the New Year. A copy of the hearing agenda outlining submitters who presented to the hearing is attached below.
If you would like a copy of the submitter's or officers presentations to the Hearing, please contact Kara Maresca - Senior Environmental Policy Planner, on (07) 376 0641, or email kmaresca@taupo.govt.nz
Submitter Survey
Following hearings all submitters were sent a survey form seeking feedback on the plan change process up to hearings. This is a practice that started after the hearings for plan changes 19-21 in an effort to seek feedback on our processes and improve.
Of the 93 submitters to the landscape and natural values plan changes, 20 submitters responded, which is a 22% response rate (note all responses went into a draw to receive a gift basket). the results of the survey are available to view below.
Congratulations to Harrison Grierson of Tauranga who won the gift basket.
Want more information?
For any further information about the Landscape and Natural Values Plan Change, please contact:
Kara Maresca – Senior Environmental Policy Planner, on ph (07) 376 0641, or email kmaresca@taupo.govt.nz.