Plans, policies and reports
Hauraki Gulf Islands review
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Issues and options papers
Network Utilities
Issue
Network utilities are an important issue for the Gulf Islands. The reticulation
of utilities varies for different islands within the gulf. For example,
electricity reticulation is available on Waiheke but not on Great Barrier
Island. Do the people on Great Barrier Island want electricity reticulation? Is
it economically feasible from a network utility provider's perspective? Network
utilities are an important consideration for future development on the islands
and need to be appropriately provided for in the District Plan.
Under the current Hauraki Gulf Islands (HGI) District Plan, network utilities
are permitted activities provided that they meet the permitted activity
standards for the relevant land unit in which they are to be located. Utilities
that do not meet the standards require a resource consent.
The subdivision rules in the HGI District Plan require reticulation of
services to be underground, but provision is made for overhead reticulation in
certain circumstances, particularly in rural areas.
Currently, the rules in the HGI District Plan for network utilities are
dispersed throughout the Plan. Should there be a separate network utilities
section?
The main issue for the Gulf Islands is for the future provision of network
utilities and how they are to be integrated into the landscape. Any future
development will bring a greater need for utility services and provision should
be made for them in the Plan. Network utility equipment can have significant
visual and amenity effects on streetscapes, reserves and coastal areas,
particularly if it involves overhead reticulation of services or
telecommunication masts and antennas. This is particularly important in the Gulf
Islands where visual amenity is a concern around coastal areas and significant
ridgelines.
Nevertheless, it is recognised that network utilities play an important part
in providing for the future economic and social wellbeing of the Gulf Islands.
For example, broadband Internet and wireless services could enable people to
work from home.
The user generally pays for the cost of providing such services. However, the
costs have the potential to increase if network utility providers are required
to design or locate services that take into account visual and amenity effects.
A balance needs to be achieved that takes into account environmental, economic
and social benefits and costs.
Possible approaches
You may have a better or alternative approach to those outlined below. If so,
we would like to hear from you.
- Retain the status quo, with network utility provisions provided in the
relevant land unit in which the utilities are to be located.
- Introduce separate network utility provisions for the Inner and Outer
Islands.
- Introduce a separate section on network utilities (similar to Isthmus
section) in the HGI Plan.
- Provide a definition of network utilities.
- For the location and placement of utility equipment, introduce the
concepts of:
- Overhead network utilities
- Aboveground network utilities
- Underground network utilities
- Develop a code of performance standards for network utilities that have
'permitted activity status' in road reserves.
- Ensure that provisions take into account any government legislation and
changes relating to network utilities.
Note:
While this issue paper can be read in isolation, it is best read in
association with the issue papers relating to:
