Golden Bay Landscapes Project Plan

This page outlines the Golden Bay Landscapes Project Plan in detail.

Revised 21 November 2011.

Project Background

The Tasman District’s Golden Bay / Northwest Coast sub-region – from Kahurangi Point on the Northwest Coast to Separation Point at the eastern extent of Golden Bay – contains large areas of significant landscapes and a dispersed pattern of small coastal settlements.

Section 6(b) of the Resource Management Act 1991 requires that Council protect outstanding natural features and landscapes from inappropriate subdivision, use and development.

The Tasman Resource Management Plan (the Plan), when notified in 1996, proposed a number of Landscape Priority Areas. As a result of submissions, Variation 1 removed all but two of these areas (Takaka Hill and St Arnaud), including the Coastal Environment Landscape Priority Area. Subsequent decisions committed Council to further investigation and consultation on the location of outstanding natural features and landscapes, and the rules necessary for their appropriate protection. In resolving appeals to the Environment Court, Council agreed in June 2008 through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Friends of Nelson Haven and Tasman Bay Inc. to:

identify outstanding natural features and landscapes (ONFLs) in Golden Bay and the Northwest Coast taking account of existing information, and
undertake a Plan Change to incorporate a strategy to protect ONFLs from inappropriate subdivision, use and development, following a review of rules dealing with subdivision, buildings, earthworks, vegetation removal and forestry.

Council also committed to:

develop a strategy and Plan Changes to manage development of coastal settlement areas; integrated with managing other land resource values, including natural character, in the rural areas of the sub-region;
undertake a similar planning process for defined parts of coastal Tasman Bay.

This project is to deliver on the first two commitments. It thus is linked with a broad settlement planning strategy for the whole of Golden Bay / Northwest Coast sub-region.

Work commenced on this project in late 2007 with some investigations and engagement with community stakeholders. Work paused from August 2008 to June 2010, and has re-continued since July 2010. A Working Group was established in December 2010, and this Group has met 3 times in 2011 (including a pending December meeting).

Project Purpose

To review in Golden Bay and the Northwest Coast, the values of landscapes and natural features, and the effects and risks of development demand on these, and prepare a Plan Change to incorporate a strategy to protect outstanding natural features and landscapes from risk activities and processes of inappropriate subdivision, use and development.

Key Project Objectives

The key objectives of the Golden Bay Strategic Planning (Landscape) Project are:

Identify and characterise outstanding natural features and landscapes in the Golden Bay and North West Coast sub-region, incorporating expert and community valuations, using an agreed framework for characterisation and significance assessment
Assess issues and options for the protection of ONFLs, accounting for values, risks and existing controls
Develop a sustainable management strategy for landscape change and incorporate in a Plan Change for Council adoption and notification.

Key Project Tasks and Timeframes

Key Tasks

Complete the landscape characterisation for the Golden Bay / Northwest Coast sub-region.
Identification of Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes.
Evaluation of the identified ONFLs using a robust, described assessment methodology – in consultation with Working Group.
Review the existing policy instruments for protecting these outstanding areas, and managing subdivision, use and development – in consultation with Working Group.
Land owner consultation period February / March 2012.
Document the landscape protection issues and management options for a draft section 32 report as part of a Policy Paper for the Environment & Planning Committee April 2012.
Wide community consultation period May 2012 (non-statutory).
Committee adoption of Proposed Plan Change and revised section 32 report mid 2012 (commencement of RMA Schedule 1 formal statutory consultation process)

Key Interest Groups and Stakeholders Involved

Ward Councillors
Manawhenu ki Mohua
Golden Bay Community Board
Friends of Nelson Haven and Tasman Bay (Inc) / Friends of Golden Bay
Federated Farmers
Department of Conservation
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society
Business (quarrying, transport, tourism and land development)
Marine Farming and Fishing

Key Issues to Date

The consultation meeting on 9 December 2010 suggested the formation of an informal ‘working group’. This group is to be involved as a sounding board in Council’s evaluation of the Frank Boffa report, and in preparing appropriate policy response. The original timeframe has been amended to accommodate this change, and a request for additional consultation with affected land owners prior to wider community consultation.

Summary Timeline

Milestones	Date Commenced	Date Completed
Frank Boffa to commence project work	September 2010	January 2011
Stakeholder meeting with mapwork and documentation	December 2010
ONFL documentation and mapwork	October 2010 onwards	Ongoing
Community engagement including working group meetings on 20 July, 12 October and 13 December 2011	2008	Ongoing
Land owner consultation	February 2012	March 2012
Environment & Planning Committee Meeting Policy Paper		April 2012
Wide Community consultation	May 2012
Environment & Planning Committee Meeting Proposed Plan Change for public notification		mid 2012
Public Notification period	August 2012	October 2012

Project Management

The Project Sponsor is Steve Markham, Policy Manager.
The Project Leader is Shelagh Noble.

The Project Team includes Neil Jackson with collaborative support from other policy and consents planning staff, and the Policy Manager together with consultancy services as required.