The Impact of Rural Subdivision and Development on Landscape Values report, published in July, aims to assist planning staff in councils and others working on the development of district plans to deal with the landscape implications of rural subdivisions and associated developments. It may also be relevant for those involved with resource consent applications where there are landscape issues. The report focuses on some of the technical issues associated with landscape assessment and examines a variety of approaches to dealing with landscape issues in district plans. It sets out various methods for the identification and analysis of hazards and risks posed by hazardous facilities, information requirements for land use consent applications and recommended consent conditions for hazardous facilities to meet RMA requirements. It also acts as a prompt for local authorities to examine their own processes, compare their performance with their peers, and share information about good practice.
Urban issues are on the agenda in New Zealand.
Our urban population has increased by 30 percent since 1969, but the area of land classed as urban has trebled in that time - and is now double the area used for crops and orchards. Lindsay Gow undertook sabbatical study in Minneapolis St Paul, Portland and Seattle to find out how growing metropolitan areas in the US manage their urban growth and development. His book Urban sprawl draws some lessons for New Zealand from his visit. This report aims to assess the perceived weaknesses of the resource management plan process when analysing submissions with significant environmental effects. It also aims to provide guidance as to how local authorities should manage submissions giving consideration to initiating a variation or plan change under the Resource Management Act.