The aim of the project is to identify and protect outstanding natural features and landscapes in Golden Bay and Northwest Coast.
Ultimately this project will result in a formal change to the Tasman Resource Management Plan. You can read more about the first step in the formal plan change process at the link below:
This work is part of our responsibilities under section 6(b) of the Resource Management Act 1991 to protect outstanding natural features and landscapes from inappropriate subdivision, use and development.
It also implements policy 15 of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010, which requires us to protect natural features and landscapes (including seascapes) in the coastal environment.
There are three key processes which affect the current project status.
Firstly, we have commissioned an updated Golden Bay and Northwest Coast Landscape Study to pull together all the information/landscape assessment work that has been done to date, including outstanding natural feature and landscape recommendations. This updated assessment is currently being finalised.
Secondly, the scope of landscape assessment is being widened to include the entire Tasman District. We hope to commission the district wide landscape assessment from mid-2019. The updated Golden Bay and Northwest Coast Landscape Study will become a chapter of the district wide landscape assessment.
Thirdly, a full review of the Tasman Resource Policy Statement and the district plan sections of the Tasman Resource Management Plan is getting underway from 2019. The district wide landscape assessment (including the Golden Bay & Northwest Coast Landscape Study) will be rolled into this wider plan review process.
Further information about the wider plan reviews will be on our website once it is available.
Ro Cudby (policy planner): email rowena.cudby@tasman.govt.nz
In 2011, a 'Small Working Group' (SWG) was convened to identify outstanding natural features and landscapes in Golden Bay and Northwest Coast.
The SWG members all committed a significant amount of time and energy in this process. They represented a variety of community groups including Federated Farmers; Friends of Nelson Haven and Tasman Bay; Friends of Golden Bay; economic development interests; Manawhenua ki Mohua; Forest & Bird; Northwest Coast farmers; and marine farming and wild fishing interests. Tasman District Council supported the process by providing a planning staff member and mapping services.
The SWG members brought an vast amount of local knowledge to the project and went through a collaborative, iterative and rigourous process over three years to reach agreement on the recommendation of the six outstanding natural landscapes and ten outstanding natural features for protection.
The draft proposed plan change released in 2016 is based on the recommendations of the SWG.
The SWG's final report (October 2016) contains its recommendations.
SWG Final Report October 2016 (pdf, 9 MB)
Earlier versions of the SWG report are available here.
SWG Draft Report July 2015 (pdf, 7 MB)
SWG Draft Report October 2014 (pdf, 2.4 MB)
This section contains some of the technical assessments and reports prepared for, or made available to, the Small Working Group and Council.
They do not necesarily represent the positions of either the Small Working Group or the Council.
The process of identifying outstanding natural features and landscapes in the Tasman Resource Management Plan has evolved over a number of years. Following is some background information on this process.
When the Tasman Resource Management Plan (TRMP) was notified in 1996, a number of 'Landscape Priority Areas' were proposed. As a result of public submissions, Variation 1 to the TRMP removed all but two of these areas (the Takaka Hill and St Arnaud Landscape Priority Areas remain). 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 Incorporated to review the TRMP provisions relating to the landscape. The work towards identification of ONFLs in Golden Bay & Northwest Coast and the forthcoming landscapes and natural character plan changes are part of this agreement.
A meeting was held in 2010 with about 70 parties interested in the identification of ONFLs in Golden Bay & Northwest Coast. A Large Working Group of about 30 people representing the diverse views of the community was subsequently formed and this group met four times during 2011-2012. Some members of the Large Working Group were concerned about the risk of increased regulation of land use arising from the ONFL project and its potential impact on the remote community. Others were concerned about the risks of not adequtely looking after nationally and regionally significant landscapes.
Recognising that there were not going to reach a shared view as a large group, a Small Working Group of eight was delegated the task of making recommendations to Council on the identification of ONFLs in Golden Bay and the Northwest Coast. More information and copies of reports are in the 'Foundation work by the Small Working Group' section.
The Draft Proposed Golden Bay Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes Plan Change was released for public feedback in July 2016. The draft proposed plan change:
The public feedback from this process will be used to inform the future plan change process.
Read more about the Golden Bay Landscapes Draft Proposed Plan Change.
In April 2018 the following Environment Court decision on an application by Wainui Bay Spat Catching Group for a private Plan Change (PC61) in relation to spat catching and holding farms in Wainui Bay was released.
In this decision, the Court noted that it was hampered by the absence of strategic planning in the TRPS and TRMP implementing the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010, particularly in regard to landscape and natural character.
Council has since widened the scope of the Landscape Project, partly in part in response to the Court's comments. We have also commissioned an updated Golden Bay and Northwest Coast Landscape Assessment - this is currently in preparation.
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