Hauraki Gulf Islands review
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Issues and options papers
Strategic
Management Areas and Policy Areas
Issue
District Plans vary immensely throughout New Zealand. Even within Auckland City
Council the three sections of the District Plan are very different in their
approach, with each reflecting what was considered the best approach to resource
management given the natural and physical resources of the area.
There are a number of questions that need be considered as part of any
District Plan review, regarding the structure of the existing document and
whether that should be carried through into the new District Plan. The current
Hauraki Gulf Islands Plan was structured in a particular manner that was
considered best to achieve the sustainable and integrated management of the
Gulf's natural and physical resources. Through any review process it is
important to determine whether that structure worked and if it should be
maintained
The planning structure adopted as a basis for resource management methods in
the Hauraki Gulf Islands Plan is the division of the district into Strategic
Management Areas (SMAs). This permits the identification of physical, social and
development characteristics. Common objectives and policies have been developed
for each SMA. The rationale is that these provide a coherent basis for
management of the areas through the application of rules. Strategic Management
Areas are divided into land units and policy areas.
Land units are based on common features of the physical and natural
landscape. Each land unit has a combination of physical and environmental
characteristics by which it is distinguished. Rules and standards apply to the
various land units, together with the criteria for assessment of applications.
Policy areas apply to a number of locations that exhibit a need for a more
pronounced strategic approach to resource management in addition to the control
regime presented by the use of SMAs and land units. Policy areas provide
additional objectives and policies to be considered during the consent process.
While Strategic Management Areas can be broadly described as those geographic
units which have a commonality for reasons related to elements of the physical
and natural environment, policy areas are identified on the basis of a number of
other factors such as existing subdivision patterns, existing development levels
and types, and activities and development limitations.
The District Plan states that land units are identified by a combination of
predominant natural and environmental factors such as slope, vegetation,
drainage patterns, water systems, aspect, geology, soils, and propensity for
erosion or other natural hazards. However, this really applies only to Land
Units 1-10. Other land units are defined not only by the common features of the
physical and natural landscape but also by settlement patterns, infrastructure,
existing land uses and subdivision patterns and activities. Land units can
therefore use a similar approach to policy areas in defining an area.
If land units reflect not only natural and environmental factors but other
issues as well, is there a need for further delineation, specifically into
policy areas? If land units can address the same issues as policy areas, do
policy areas have a purpose? Do they add value to understanding and
administering the District Plan, or can their provisions be incorporated within
the relevant land unit?
If policy areas are still required, are they applied to the appropriate
areas? Currently policy areas apply to the main Great Barrier residential areas,
the principal Waiheke commercial areas and Rangihoua Park. The policy area maps
for the Waiheke commercial areas represent more of a vision for future
development than additional controls. Many of the criteria for the Oneroa policy
area are design-orientated, which could be otherwise addressed through design
guides. Some policy areas control all earthworks activity and vegetation
removal. Is this an appropriate level of control? Regarding Great Barrier, if
the policy areas seek to provide for a degree of residential development, then
would a residential land unit be more appropriate for Tryphena, Medlands, Claris
and Port Fitzroy?
If SMAs are required, is it necessary to have 19 SMAs (which are supposed to
be broad geographic units), when there are only 26 land units (which are
supposed to be more specific)? Fourteen of the SMAs principally relate to Great
Barrier Island. Is there a need for 14 SMAs on Great Barrier when there are only
10 land units that apply to Great Barrier? It is likely that the number of Great
Barrier SMAs could be reduced considerably without any deterioration in the
approach to resource management.
The Plan states that SMAs bring integration at an area-wide strategic
management level. However, with such a large number of SMAs it is doubtful if
they provide strategic integration, and/or direction. On Great Barrier they
divide the island to a greater degree than land units. Is there a case for
reducing the number of SMAs if they remain?
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.
- Rationalise the number of SMAs so that they represent an area-wide theme,
rather than breaking them up into specific areas.
- Rationalise the number of policy areas so that they apply to areas of
particular significance that cannot be specifically provided for in the
relevant land unit.
- Remove SMAs and policy areas from the District Plan and allow for land
units to provide relevant resource management directions for the Gulf.
- Remove objectives from policy areas and SMAs and include them in the
Issues and Strategy section of the Plan.
- Remove controls relating to earthworks and vegetation removal in policy
areas and let the underlying land unit rules apply instead.
- Review controls relating to earthworks and vegetation removal in the
context of an overall review of policy areas.
Note:
While this issue paper can be read in isolation, it is best read in
association with the issue papers relating to:
