RMA plan example provisions
Regional policy statement
Chapter: Natural hazards
Coastal erosion
Issue
Climate change effects such as sea level rise and increased frequency and magnitude of storm surges will potentially alter and/or increase the risks from coastal erosion.
Issue explanation
Climate change is expected to result in rising sea levels and an increase in both the frequency and intensity of storm events. Both are expected to increase the impacts of storm surge and wave run-up, which will directly affect the location, rate and magnitude of coastal erosion. Areas currently experiencing coastal erosion may see an increase in erosion, and erosion may start to occur at locations where coastal erosion is currently not significant.
Objective
To ensure the effects of climate change are taken into account in avoiding or mitigating the adverse effects of coastal erosion on people and natural and physical resources.
Policy
Where new subdivision, use and development is proposed in the coastal environment, the occurrence and magnitude of coastal erosion must be assessed, including any potential changes to existing risk as a result of climate change.
Method
Identify areas susceptible to future coastal erosion, including via modeling of expected climate change effects.
Flooding
Issue
Climate change is predicted to increase the frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall events, leading to changes in flood risk.
Issue explanation
Increasing air temperatures will bring a corresponding increase in the frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall events, even in areas expected to experience less average rainfall in future. This change will place pressure on existing stormwater systems in urban areas, and natural drainage systems in rural environments. Areas currently prone to flooding may see an increase in the frequency and scale of future flooding events, and new areas currently not affected by flooding may become susceptible.
Objective
To ensure the effects of climate change are taken into account in avoiding or mitigating the adverse effects of inundation on people and natural and physical resources.
Policy
Where new subdivision, use and development is proposed in areas susceptible to inundation, the occurrence and magnitude of inundation must be assessed, including any potential changes to existing risk as a result of climate change.
Method
Identify areas susceptible to future inundation, including via modeling of expected climate change effects.
Regional plan
Chapter: Freshwater
Issue
The effects of climate change have the potential to change the quantity and quality of surface water, with increased variability in river flows likely.
Issue explanation
Changes in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events are one of the expected effects of climate change. These events include increased incidence of drought in Eastern areas, and increased floods in all areas after major heavy rainfall events. Either could result in significant changes in the amount of water flowing in a number of rivers and streams throughout the region. Abstractions, damming and diversions of freshwater must consider this increased fluctuation in flows.
Objective
To manage the effects of climate change resulting in increasing variability of flows in rivers and streams by controlling the taking, use, damming and diversions of fresh surface water.
Policies
Manage the abstraction of fresh surface water based on hydrological modelling/predictions including the effects of climate change.
Limit the abstraction of fresh surface water during extreme low flows.
Methods
Regulatory:
- Rules setting minimum flow levels in streams and rivers throughout the region.
- Assessment criteria for determining resource consents for water abstractions from low flowing rivers and streams.
- Conditions on resource consents in water abstraction water permits.
Non-regulatory:
- Provision of information material to inform the public about the minimum flows in rivers and streams, and the hydrological analysis including climate change predictions used to calculate the minimum flows.
- Undertake further hydrological research into the effects of climate change on fresh water resources, in particular minimum flows and extreme flood events.
- Encourage water efficiency measures in the community
- Commission regional economic study into drought-tolerant agricultural and horticultural practices.
Rules
Existing rules associated with the abstraction of fresh surface water should be audited to ensure climate change predictions have been incorporated into the minimum flow calculations.
District plan
Chapter: Natural hazards
Issue
The effects of climate change have the potential to change and/or worsen the effects of existing natural hazards on people and natural and physical resources in the District.
Issue Explanation
Based on current predictions, climate change has the potential to affect the scale and intensity of existing natural hazards in the District, in particular, the natural hazards of coastal erosion, coastal inundation, storm surges, flooding and droughts. In managing land use and subdivision in areas prone to natural hazards, the Resource Management Act requires the effects of climate change to be considered.
Objective
To minimise the effects of climate change in areas subject to natural hazards, by managing activities and development within areas at risk from each hazard.
Policies
To identify natural hazard prone areas in the District incorporating the current modelling/predictions of expected climate change impacts.
Subdivision and development in areas prone to natural hazards should be avoided, or permitted only where it is demonstrated that the risks from the hazard(s) can be effectively mitigated.
Methods
Regulatory:
Non-regulatory:
Rules
Existing rules should provide an appropriate framework, but may need adjusting to take into account climate change effects (i.e. the inland boundary of the foreshore protection zone, location/extent of flood hazard areas).
