What water related matters currently in the District Plan do you consider need to be removed as they are primarily the responsibility of the regional council but are currently also being looked after by the district council?
Earthworks activities near waterbodies are currently managed in the District Plan while also being subject to regional council rules.
Why aren’t you considering groundwater as part of the review of the current District Plan?
The take, use and discharge of water, including the discharge of contaminants into groundwater, is a regional council function under the Resource Management Act. The district council doesn’t have jurisdiction over groundwater, and so it’s not a matter for the District Plan.
What changes to waterbody setbacks are you proposing for buildings, tree planting and earthworks?
No changes to existing setbacks (generally 10 or 20 metres) are currently being proposed, except in relation to plantation
forestry which is now subject to a separate National Environmental Standard, rather than the District Plan.
We want to hear what you think about whether this approach still provides adequate protection of the natural character of wetlands, lakes and rivers and their margins, which the RMA lists as a matter of national importance.
Why are you reviewing the current list of waterbodies to which esplanade reserves and esplanade strips apply?
Waterbodies are currently only specified as having esplanade reserve or esplanade strip for public access reasons. However, these instruments can also help protect water quality, natural character, ecological values and cultural values of the land.
In addition, the RMA requires esplanades to be created along the coast when land in this area is subdivided, but the District Plan doesn’t currently provide for this.
Current list of waterbodies to which esplanade reserves and esplanade strips apply can be found online in Appendix E12 of the District Plan (Township Volume) and Appendix E17 of the Rural Volume.
Are you considering an increase in the width of esplanade reserves and strips?
The RMA assumes that esplanades will be 20 m wide, unless the District Plan specifies a narrower or wider distance.
Currently in townships, a 20 m wide reserve is usually required. In the rural area a 20 m wide reserve is anticipated around Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere and Lake Coleridge and beside the Selwyn River between Chamberlains Ford and Selwyn Lake Road. Elsewhere a 10 m wide strip for public access purposes is generally anticipated.
We want to hear what you think about whether this approach still provides adequate protection of the natural character of the coastal environment, wetlands, and lakes and rivers and their margins, which the RMA lists as a matter of national importance.
What about activities on the surface of waterbodies?
The use of motorised craft is restricted on a number of lakes (Blackwater, Catherine, Evelyn, Georgina, Grasmere, Hawdon, Henrietta, Ida, Letitia, Lillian, Marymere, Moana Rua/Pearson, Red Lakes, Rubicon, Sarah, Selfe and Vagabonds Inn) with high ecological and amenity values.
No changes are currently proposed to these provisions, but we want to hear if you think that the new District Plan should manage other activities on the surface of waterbodies.
Although the provision of water to households is one of the things to be considered as part of subdivision related rules, whether that water is chlorinated or not is outside the scope of the Council’s Resource Management Act function. As such, it is not a matter that can be considered as part of the District Plan review.
Where can I find more information about the District Plan Review of water related rules to date?
For more information about the Council’s preferred option for draft changes to water and all the work done to date as part of the review visit Council website where all the reports developed for the District Plan Review are kept.
