Coastal land development

Getting started

Gathering information

Gathering information, monitoring and research is important for managing coastal land development and should be included as part of policy statement and plan processes. See the Policy and Plan Effectiveness Monitoring Guidance Note and the Writing Plan Provisions for Regional and District Plans Guidance Note.

Consultation

Consultation is an effective way to identify community aspirations, concerns, areas of contention in relation to coastal land development. Consultation is therefore critical to determine the appropriate management strategies and should be an integral part of any approach taken.

Consultation with tangata whenua, through iwi authorities, is mandatory when developing policy statements and plans. Consultation helps ensure that coastal management issues of significance to tangata whenua are identified early and addressed in the management approach. It also enables tangata whenua to be actively involved in the exercise of kaitiakitanga.

For more information refer to the Consultation for lan development and Facilitating consultation with Tangata Whenua Guidance Notes.

Identify and assess the coastal development issues and desired outcomes

There is a wide range of resource management issues associated with coastal land development. Careful management is required to identify and assess the relevant issues to protect the coastal environment from inappropriate subdivision, use and development.
RMA issues from coastal land development can be categorised into nine broad issues:

• preserving the natural character of the coastal environment
  
  
• protecting coastal landscapes
  
  
• maintaining coastal biodiversity
  
  
• maintaining and enhancing public access
  
  
• recognising and providing for the special relationship of tangata whenua with the coastal environment
  
  
• identifying and protecting coastal historic heritage
  
  
• managing occupation and competition for space
  
  
• managing water quality in the coastal marine area
  
  
• managing coastal hazards.

When assessing these issues and the desired community outcomes identified through consultation it is important to identify the overall importance of the coastal environment to the particular district/region. Key questions to consider include:

• what are the key coastal components that need to be protected and enhanced?
  
  
• what areas and features are important in terms of s6 RMA?
  
  
• how is the coastal environment valued and how does it contribute to the well-being of the district/region?

Consultation will play a key role in determining the answers to these questions.

Develop an appropriate resource management strategy and framework

There is no simple solution to managing the effects of coastal land development. Each council needs to develop its own response, having regard to the characteristics and issues of their district or region while taking steps to integrate the management of cross-boundary issues. The best response is likely to come from a mix of regulatory and non-regulatory methods and should:

• give effect to relevant matters contained in national and regional policy statements
  
  
• have regard to any plans or strategies prepared by the council (eg, Long-term council community plans and growth strategies) and by other agencies with responsibilities within the coastal environment, including the Department of Conservation
  
  
• consider the linkages with non-RMA plans and strategies including other council strategies
  
  
• take into account any relevant iwi management plan or any other relevant planning documents recognised by an iwi authority
  
  
• consider the cumulative effects of coastal land development and monitoring and research are particularly important in assessing these effects.

Develop the objectives, policies and methods to address coastal development issues and achieve specified environmental outcomes

Once the issues associated with coastal development are understood for the particular region or district, RMA practitioners should develop provisions in their planning documents to achieve specified environmental outcomes. Guidance on developing RMA planning provisions is provided in the Writing Plan Provisions for Regional and District Plans guidance note.

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NOTE: This guidance note was prepared prior to the NZCPS 2010 taking effect. Care should be exercised in reading and using the information contained within this guidance note.