Plans, policies and reports
District Plan Hauraki Gulf Islands Section - Proposed 2006(Notified version 2006)Street index | Planning maps | Text | Appendices | Annexures | Section 32 material | Plan modifications | Help | Notified - Home | Decision - Home Part 13 - Connectivity and linkages13.1 Introduction 13.1 IntroductionConnecting people, places, goods and services is an important issue in the islands. The transport system must cater for the movement of people and goods between the mainland and the Hauraki Gulf, between islands in the Hauraki Gulf, and around the islands themselves. The components of the transport system that connect people, places, goods and services include wharves, airfields, passenger transport, roads, cycleways, walkways and waterways. The use and development of these resources needs to be integrated with other natural and physical elements of the gulf islands to achieve sustainable management. This part of the Plan seeks to facilitate a sustainable approach to transport, and this will be the cornerstone of council's approach to addressing transport issues throughout the islands. 13.2 Resource management issuesTransport to, from, between and around the islands is a vital issue for residents and visitors alike. It has had, and will continue to have, considerable influence on the character and culture of the islands. It is therefore important that transport issues are robustly addressed in the Plan in a manner that is consistent with other relevant legislation, strategies, policy documents and plans, but which also recognises the unique influence transport issues have on the people and communities of the islands. The following issues are identified for the different modes of transport and associated natural and physical resources. 13.2.1 WaterThe waters of the Hauraki Gulf provide strategic linkages between the islands and from the mainland. They form an integral part of the overall transport network of the islands. A number of different types of water transport occur within the Hauraki Gulf. These currently include commuter and visitor ferry links, freight movement, charter boats, recreational boats and cruise ships. While the council's authority under the RMA extends only to mean high water springs, land use decisions impact on the effectiveness and efficiency of water transport. It is therefore important that the council works closely with the Auckland Regional Council, other relevant authorities, passenger transport operators and stakeholders to ensure an integrated and sustainable approach is undertaken. Principal issues The significant resource management issues which need to be addressed in the Plan are:
13.2.2 WharvesWharves are a significant asset providing access for people, goods and services to and from the islands, as well as being used for boat launching, yachting and recreational fishing. Wharves also often require passenger terminals and connections to other land transport infrastructure such as carparking, bus stations, walkways, cycleways and taxi services to operate efficiently and effectively. While wharves within the Hauraki Gulf are controlled by other parts of the Plan, and the Auckland Regional Plan: Coastal, the connectivity and linkages section must be integrated with these provisions, and ensure that access to and from the wharves operates efficiently and effectively. Principal issue The significant resource management issue which needs to be addressed in the Plan is:
13.2.3 Airstrips and helipadsThe council owns and operates two airstrips on Great Barrier. The Plan acknowledges that air travel to Great Barrier is of increasing importance and that Claris airfield in particular plays a significant role in moving people and goods and helps enable the people and communities of Great Barrier to provide for their social and economic wellbeing. There are also smaller airstrips and helipads in the islands. Some of these airstrips and helipads provide access to remote locations, or are used in the landform land units for farming operations. Others provide access to sites that are more easily accessed by other modes of transport, or for commercial operations. Air travel has different effects to land based transport, particularly noise. Principal issues The significant resource management issues which need to be addressed in the Plan are:
13.2.4 RoadingThe road network caters for passenger transport, private vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. It is used for access to shopping, employment, education, entertainment, recreation and to access the wharves and airfields that provide for entry and exit to and from the islands. Therefore, it is a very important physical resource. While the quality of the road network is variable it still represents a significant physical resource that must be sustainably managed. The construction of new roads may give rise to adverse effects, such as sediment runoff from earthworks, stormwater runoff and vegetation removal. The council needs to consider how the construction of new roads will be managed to ensure that the adverse effects are adequately mitigated. The Plan acknowledges that there are many unformed legal roads, especially on Great Barrier. Many of these unformed legal roads are unlikely to be constructed due to a variety of factors, such as their location, geography and demand. The council must therefore consider how these are addressed in the future. Principal issues The significant resource management issues which need to be addressed in the Plan are:
13.2.5 Parking and accessThe provision and management of parking, loading and on-site circulation plays a significant role in the ability of people to safely and efficiently access land use activities for work, recreation, shopping and business. It directly impacts on the use of private motor vehicles and cycles as a primary mode of transport for these activities. Adverse effects can occur when the demand for parking for an activity exceeds that provided on-site and there is an overspill of parking on the adjacent roadside. The safe and efficient use and capacity of the road can be adversely affected by parked or manoeuvring vehicles, while the amenity of an area can also be adversely affected by on-street parking. To avoid or reduce these effects, the Plan ensures that adequate on-site parking and loading is provided for all activities. However, the council is mindful that on-site parking can generate adverse effects such as vegetation modification and removal, increased impervious surface areas, reduced private open space, reduced wastewater disposal areas, increased earthworks and sediment runoff. An oversupply of parking can also encourage reliance on private vehicle trips when viable alternative modes of transport are available. Unrestricted vehicle access to properties located near intersections, or on busy roads with an important through traffic function can adversely affect the efficient functioning of the road network, and give rise to safety issues. Also, many sites on the islands are steep and well vegetated, which can make access difficult. Development of accessways can give rise to adverse effects, such as vegetation removal, earthworks and sediment runoff, and stormwater runoff. Given the need for on-site wastewater disposal and the rural nature of large parts of the islands, the site sizes are relatively large. Dwellings are often located considerable distance from the road, either to maximise views, access to sunlight, or achieve appropriate building platforms which in turn means that accessways are long. It is therefore necessary for council to control accessways to ensure appropriate access is provided, without giving rise to adverse environmental effects. Principal issues The significant resource management issues which need to be addressed in the Plan are:
13.2.6 Cycling and walkingThe council recognises the important contribution that cycling and walking can make to managing travel demand through its Cycling and Walking Strategy 1998. However, in the islands the sealed carriageway of many roads is not sufficiently wide for safe cycling, and cycling facilities are only provided for in limited locations. For pedestrians, only parts of the islands have footpaths. Principal issues The significant resource management issues which need to be addressed in the Plan are:
13.2.7 Passenger transportPassenger transport is the principal means of access to the islands from the mainland. It is also an important method of transport around the islands. Existing bus services on some islands link with the ferry service. With car travel putting pressure on the existing road network it is important that the Plan integrates land use planning with transport and provides for the efficient and effective operation of passenger transport. Principal issue The significant resource management issue which needs to be addressed in the Plan is:
13.3 Resource management objectives and policies13.3.1 Objective - wharvesTo sustainably manage the use and development of the islands' wharves and associated infrastructure, while protecting the character and amenity values of the islands. Policies
13.3.2 Objective - airstrips and helipadsTo sustainably manage the use of the islands' airstrips and helipads and associated infrastructure, while protecting the character and amenity values of the islands. Policies
13.3.3 Objective - roadingTo recognise and provide for the existing road system as an important resource for an integrated transport network, while managing it to ensure the adverse effects on the surrounding environment are minimised. Policies
13.3.4 Objectives - parking and access13.3.4.1 Objective To ensure the impact of activities on the safety and efficiency of the road network is addressed while avoiding adverse effects on the environment. Policies
13.3.4.2 Objective To ensure access to sites is provided at appropriate locations, while avoiding or mitigating adverse effects. Policies
13.3.5 Objectives - cycling and walking
Policies
13.3.6 Objective - passenger transportTo recognise and provide for passenger transport to, from and around the islands. Policies
13.4 Resource management strategy13.4.1 ContextThis part of the Plan focuses on matters that are within the domain of resource management. The measures adopted within this part of the Plan need to complement and help give effect to the relevant regional plans and strategies, as well as the council's transport strategy - Connecting People and Places, and the Gulf Transport Strategy. In accordance with these other plans and strategies, the Plan adopts measures that integrate planning, transport and the environment, improve energy efficiency and accessibility and encourage a multi modal approach to transport. 13.4.2 WharvesThe commercial 7 (wharf) and Matiatia land units provide the relevant land use provisions for the land behind the wharves throughout the islands. As wharves are a vital component of the transport infrastructure it is important that this part of the Plan is consistent and integrated with the relevant provisions that control wharves elsewhere within the Plan. 13.4.3 Airstrips and helipadsThe council has included within the Plan designations for the commercial airfields on Great Barrier. It may also investigate identifying appropriate sites for helipads on inner islands such as Rakino that do not have regular ferry services. This will provide for their ongoing operational and future development requirements and ensure they are appropriately recognised and provided for in the Plan. Private helipads and airstrips may also be necessary in some remote locations, such as parts of Great Barrier, where access cannot easily be obtained by conventional means. However, the Plan restricts helipads in areas that are easily accessible by more conventional means of transport, and where there is the potential to adversely affect amenity values. 13.4.4 RoadingWhile the roading network is of variable quality it is a significant resource that needs to be managed in an efficient and effective manner to ensure good accessibility. To achieve sustainable management of this resource a roading hierarchy has been developed to recognise each road's function. The provisions associated with the roading hierarchy will only apply to Waiheke. The hierarchy comprises primary, secondary and local roads. The classification of the roads determines their management. The higher the classification the more priority is given to the movement of through traffic and, conversely, the lower the classification more priority is given to local access. The higher order roads can be expected to cater for higher traffic flows. The road classification is as follows:
All primary, secondary and local roads on Waiheke are identified as such on the planning maps. The main outcome of the road classification is that it will provide the basis for rules controlling access to be applied to nearby land use activities. This will control the adverse effects of those activities on the safe and efficient operation of the road network. For new road construction, a low impact design approach will be considered as outlined in the ARC Technical Publication 124 Low Impact Design Manual for the Auckland Region 2000. 13.4.5 Parking and accessIn general, all new developments and new activities in existing buildings will be required to provide adequate on-site parking. However, not all activities and developments will be able to, or indeed need to provide the required parking taking into account their particular characteristics. Given the adverse effects of high numbers of private vehicle trips on parts of the road network and surrounding environment, the council seeks to reduce reliance on these trips and encourage alternative modes of transport wherever possible (eg passenger transport, cycling, walking). Because travel distances are considerable on some of the islands and alternative modes are not always available or viable, there will continue to be a certain level of reliance on private vehicle trips. Where activities can practicably be accessed using alternative modes of transport, however, the need for on-site car parking reduces. In these circumstances an oversupply of on-site parking is wasteful of land resources, can adversely affect amenity values and may only encourage continued reliance on private vehicle trips when viable alternatives are available. Through the resource consent application process on-site parking requirements may be reduced or waived where minimal adverse effects can be shown. Depending on their scale and location, parking areas can have adverse effects on the local environment in terms of increased traffic congestion, delays, decreased safety, noise and visual intrusion. For that reason limits have been placed on the scale of carparks provided for as permitted activities, with the individual effects of larger scale parking areas required to be assessed in terms of the adjoining road network, safety, and amenity values. Again, the council seeks to reduce reliance on private vehicle trips and encourage alternative modes of transport wherever possible. An oversupply of on-site parking may only encourage continued reliance on private vehicle trips when viable alternatives are available. The consent process will consider the need for larger scale parking areas, and the extent to which the proposed activity could practicably be accessed using alternative modes of transport (eg passenger transport, cycling, walking) with the potential for reducing the number of on-site parking spaces required. The steepness of site access will be controlled, and where access causes significant adverse effects the council may require a roadside parking platform instead of an accessway. Access will also be controlled where any primary road intersects another primary road or a secondary road. Vehicle access from the carriageway to the property boundary (apart from the defined road boundary on Waiheke) is also controlled through council's vehicle crossing permits (or equivalent) and the relevant engineering standards at that time. 13.4.6 Cycling and walkingAccessibility means access to different transport options as well as access to destinations. It is important that the Plan considers cycling and pedestrian access to key community focal points such as residential areas, wharves, commercial centres, schools, and other public facilities. The policies require the council and applicants to consider cycling and walking issues in conjunction with subdivision. The importance of recreational cycling and walking is also recognised. 13.4.7 Passenger transportThe Plan acknowledges that an integrated passenger transport system can reduce traffic congestion at key locations, increase efficiency and access to the islands and increase its attractiveness as a location. Although the council has limited control over the provision of the passenger transport system, the Plan's objectives and policies support its efficient and effective operation. Where efficient and effective passenger transport is available, the council will consider reducing the requirement for on-site carparking. The Plan also requires an assessment where larger parking areas (for over 25 vehicles) are proposed. As part of that assessment the council will consider opportunities for reducing the number of parking spaces. Excess parking can create unnecessary vehicle trips. 13.4.8 Travel demand managementTravel demand management refers to initiatives (excluding the provision of major transport infrastructure) to modify travel decisions so that more desirable transport, social, economic or environmental objectives can be achieved, and the adverse effects of travel can be reduced. The Plan acknowledges that travel demand management can be a useful tool for reducing the demand for travel, particularly for private vehicles, and providing a wider range of travel choices. The requirement to consider travel demand management initiatives through the resource consent process will help contribute to a sustainable approach to transport. 13.4.9 Roles and responsibilitiesThe ARC has specific roles and responsibilities in relation to transport and the coastal marine area. This part of the Plan should, subject to the RMA, be consistent with the ARC's strategies, and give effect to the relevant statutory documents. The Auckland Regional Transport Network Limited (ARTNL) is responsible for developing and maintaining certain aspects of ferry transport infrastructure in the Auckland region. The Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) is responsible for the operational planning of integrated road and passenger transport infrastructure and services for the region; the funding of Auckland transport projects and services including contracting of passenger transport services; and implementing operational plans through the regional land transport programme. 13.4.10 Construction, maintenance and upgrade of the existing road networkRules relating to the construction, maintenance and upgrade of the existing road network are contained within part 5 - Network utility services. 13.5 Rules - notification requirementsWithin this part of the Plan, except as provided for by section 94C(2) of the RMA, applications for a resource consent for restricted discretionary activities will be considered without public notification or the need to obtain written approval of or serve notice on affected persons (in accordance with section 94D(2) and (3) of the RMA). 13.6 Rules - site access13.6.1 Vehicle access - gradientThe following is a permitted activity:
The following is a restricted discretionary activity:
Exception An accessway may be steeper than 1 in 6 as a permitted activity when:
Matters of discretion When considering an application for any accessway steeper than 1 in 6, the council has restricted its discretion to considering the following matters:
Where the adverse effects associated with establishing access to a site are significant, the council may as part of any resource consent process, require the applicant to provide a roadside parking platform rather than an accessway. Notification requirements For notification requirements, refer clause 13.5. 13.6.2 Vehicle access near intersections - defined road boundaryConstruction of any vehicle access across the 'defined road boundary' as described below, and as shown on figure 13.1: Defined road boundary, is a restricted discretionary activity. This rule applies to:
Note: The above distances will be measured as illustrated by figure 13.1: Matters of discretion When considering an application to construct a vehicle access across the 'defined road boundary', the council has restricted its discretion to the following matters:
Note: Vehicle crossing permits will also be required from council for vehicle crossings between the carriageway and the property boundary. Notification requirements For notification requirements, refer clause 13.5. 13.7 Rules - parking and loading13.7.1 Provision of parking and loading spacesThe following are restricted discretionary activities:
13.7.2 Number of parking spaces to be providedEvery owner or occupier who constructs, substantially reconstructs or adds to any building or changes the use of any site must provide on-site parking in accordance with table 13.1: Number of parking spaces required. For dwellings, these provisions will only apply where there is an increase in the number of dwellings on the site. Calculation of parking requirements Where a particular site supports more than one activity, the parking requirement of each activity must be determined and provided for separately. The parking rates for the parts of an activity will also be separately determined where separate rates are listed in table 13.1. Where the parts of an activity have differing parking rates listed, the highest rate will be applied to all the parts unless they are physically and clearly defined. If an activity is not represented in table 13.1, the activity closest in nature to the new activity should be used, or where there are two or more similar activities the activity with the higher parking rate will apply. Alternatively application may be made for a new rate through the resource consent process. Table 13.1: Number of parking spaces required
The parking space requirements in table 13.1 include any spaces required to be provided under the building code for people with disabilities. 13.7.3 Number of loading spaces to be providedWith the exception of service stations and truck stops, every owner or occupier who constructs, substantially reconstructs, or adds to any building in the commercial 1-7 or Matiatia land units, or any activity elsewhere which generates delivery trips by heavy vehicles, must provide off-road loading spaces in accordance with table 13.2: Number of loading spaces to be provided. For the purposes of this clause, truck stops are stand alone facilities for the refuelling of heavy vehicles. It excludes facilities for the retail sale or hire of any goods, or for the mechanical repair and servicing of motor vehicles. Table 13:2: Number of loading spaces required
13.7.4 Assessment and formation of parking and loading areasAll parking and loading spaces must comply with the following rules. Non-compliance with any of these rules is a restricted discretionary activity.
Table 13.3: Dimensions for manoeuvring and parking spaces All dimensions are in metres
Notes:
Image not to scale. Click here for printable version of Figure 13.4 to correct scale. Image not to scale. Click here for printable version of Figure 13.5 to correct scale. 13.7.5 Matters of discretion for a reduction in parking and loading spacesWhen considering an application to reduce the number of parking and loading spaces, the council has restricted its discretion to considering the following matters:
Assessment criteria The council's assessment of an application for a reduction in parking and loading spaces will consider the following matters:
Notification requirements For notification requirements, refer clause 13.5. 13.7.6 Matters of discretion for parking areas for more than 25 vehiclesWhen considering an application to provide parking for more than 25 vehicles, the council has restricted its discretion to considering the following matters:
Assessment criteria The council's consideration of an application for parking areas for more than 25 vehicles will consider the following matters:
Notification requirements For notification requirements, refer clause 13.5. 13.7.7 Additional matters of discretion for parking areas in landform and rural land unitsWhere more than 25 parking spaces are to be provided on a site in the landform and rural land units, the council will consider the effects of the additional traffic generated by the proposed activity. When considering such applications, the council has restricted its discretion to considering the following matters:
13.8 Rules - helipads and airstrips13.8.1 ExceptionsClauses 13.8.2 to 13.8.4 do not apply to:
13.8.2 Permitted activitiesFor Great Barrier only, helipads and airstrips in are permitted in landform 1-7, where:
13.8.3 Discretionary activitiesHelipad and airstrips are discretionary activities in the following land units:
13.8.4 Non-complying activitiesHelipad and airstrips not provided for in clauses 13.8.1 to 13.8.3 above are non-complying activities. 13.8.5 Assessment criteria for discretionary activitiesThe council's assessment of an application for a helipad or airstrip as a discretionary activity will include consideration of the following matters:
Note: The council intends to investigate identifying a specific helipad site on Rakino. A time limit should therefore be considered for any resource consent that may be granted for a helipad on Rakino where this occurs prior to the council identifying a specific site. |