8 Natural Environment 8-1 8.1 Introduction...................................................................................................... 8-1 8.2 Natural Environment Issues ............................................................................ 8-3 8.3 Natural Environment: Objectives and Policies................................................. 8-5 8.3.1 Coastal Conservation ................................................................... 8-5 8.3.2 Ecosystems .................................................................................. 8-9 8.3.3 Landscape, Landforms, Geological Features and Views ........... 8-11 8.3.4 Tree Management ...................................................................... 8-13 8.3.5 Stormwater Catchment Management ......................................... 8-15 8.3.6 Minerals and Aggregates ............................................................ 8-22 8.3.7 Natural Hazards .......................................................................... 8-22 8.3.7.1 Objectives: Flood Plains ......................................... 8-22 8.3.7.2 Objective: Overland Flow Paths ............................. 8-23 8.3.7.3 Objective: Coastal Inundation Areas ...................... 8-23 8.4 Natural Environment Rules............................................................................ 8-25 8.4.1 Protection of Natural Coastal Character ..................................... 8-25 8.4.1.1 Controlled Activities ................................................ 8-25 8.4.1.2 Assessment Criteria for Controlled Activities ......... 8-25 8.4.1.3 Limited Discretionary Activities .............................. 8-26 8.4.1.4 Restrictions - Limited Discretionary Activity ........... 8-26 8.4.1.5 Assessment Criteria for Limited Discretionary Activities ................................................................. 8-26 8.4.2 Protection of Habitats and Streams ............................................ 8-26 8.4.2.1 Permitted Activities ................................................. 8-27 8.4.2.2 Controlled Activities ................................................ 8-27 8.4.2.3 Limited Discretionary Activities .............................. 8-28 8.4.2.4 Discretionary Activities ........................................... 8-28 8.4.2.5 Public Notification and Serving Notice Waived ...... 8-28 8.4.2.6 Reservations and Restrictions for Controlled and Limited Discretionary Activities .............................. 8-28 8.4.2.7 Assessment Criteria for Controlled Activities ......... 8-29 8.4.2.8 Assessment Criteria for Limited Discretionary Activities ................................................................. 8-29 8.4.2.9 Assessment Criteria for Discretionary Activities ..... 8-30 8.4.2.10 Information Requirements ...................................... 8-31 8.4.3 Volcanic Cones ........................................................................... 8-31 8.4.4 View Corridors ............................................................................ 8-31 8.4.5 Protection of Significant Landforms and Sites of Geological Significance ................................................................................ 8-32 8.4.5.1 Limited Discretionary Activities .............................. 8-32 8.4.5.2 Assessment Criteria for Limited Discretionary Activities ................................................................. 8-32 8.4.6 Tree Protection ........................................................................... 8-33 8.4.6.1 General Tree Protection ......................................... 8-33 8.4.6.2 Notable Trees ......................................................... 8-37 8.4.6.3 Protection of Trees on Roads and Reserves ......... 8-37 8.4.6.4 Restrictions - Limited Discretionary Activities ........ 8-38 8.4.6.5 Notification of Limited Discretionary Activities ........ 8-38 8.4.6.6 Assessment Criteria for Limited Discretionary Activities ................................................................. 8-39 8.4.6.7 Assessment Criteria for Discretionary Activities ..... 8-41 8.4.6.8 Conditions .............................................................. 8-41 8.4.7 Maximum Impervious Area ........................................................ 8-41 8.4.7.1 Permitted Activities ................................................ 8-42 8.4.7.2 Limited Discretionary Activities .............................. 8-42 8.4.7.3 Discretionary Activities ........................................... 8-42 8.4.7.4 Rule: Public Notification and Serving Notice Waived ................................................................... 8-42 8.4.7.5 Restrictions for Limited Discretionary Activities ..... 8-42 8.4.7.6 Assessment Criteria ............................................... 8-43 8.4.7.7 Information Requirements ...................................... 8-43 8.4.8 On-Site Stormwater Management .............................................. 8-44 8.4.8.1 Permitted Activities ................................................ 8-44 8.4.8.2 Controlled Activities ............................................... 8-45 8.4.8.3 Limited Discretionary Activities .............................. 8-45 8.4.8.4 Discretionary Activities ........................................... 8-46 8.4.8.5 General Standards ................................................. 8-46 8.4.8.6 Rule: Public Notification and Serving Notice Waived ................................................................... 8-46 8.4.8.7 Reservations and Restrictions for Controlled and Limited Discretionary Activities .............................. 8-46 8.4.8.8 Assessment Criteria ............................................... 8-46 8.4.8.9 Information Requirements ...................................... 8-49 8.4.9 Natural Hazards .......................................................................... 8-49 8.4.9.1 Flood Plains ........................................................... 8-49 8.4.9.2 Overland Flow Paths ............................................. 8-49 8.4.9.3 Coastal Inundation Areas ...................................... 8-50 8.4.9.4 Rule: Public Notification Waived ............................ 8-51 8.4.9.5 General Standards ................................................. 8-51 8.4.9.6 Reservations for Controlled Activities .................... 8-52 8.4.9.7 Restrictions for Limited Discretionary Activities ..... 8-52 8.4.9.8 Information Requirements ...................................... 8-52 8.4.9.9 Assessment Criteria for Controlled Activities ......... 8-53 8.4.9.10 Assessment Criteria for Limited Discretionary Activities ................................................................. 8-54 8.4.9.11 Assessment Criteria for Discretionary Activities .... 8-54 Appendices 8A Sites of Special Wildlife Interest .............................................................................. 8-55 8B: Sites of Geological and Landform Significance ....................................................... 8-64 8C: Schedule of Notable Trees ...................................................................................... 8-72 8D: Exotic Tree Species Protected at 15 metres in Height or 1500mm in Girth (measured at 1.4 metres above the ground)........................................................... 8-155 8E: Schedule of Species of Trees located on Roads and Reserves excluded from Rule 8.4.6.3.............................................................................................................. 8-156 8F: Significant Views from Public View Points ............................................................... 8-157 8G: Chelsea Ponds - Buffer Strip Definition for SSWI 16............................................... 8-159 8H: ON-SITE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT IN SMA 1, 2 AND 3............................. 8-160 Section 8: Natural Environment 8. Natural Environment 8.1 Introduction North Shore City is surrounded on three sides by sea, its coastline stretching for 160km, bordering the waters of both the Waitemata Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf. The coastal location of the city offers a distinct natural environment consisting of coastal cliffs of the Waitemata Group, reefs and basaltic lava flows from the Pupuke eruption, sandy beaches and secluded bush-clad inlets. There is also a diversity in the pattern of urban development which has occurred along the coastline, ranging from intensive residential environments along most of the gulf and harbour edges, to sparsely developed areas around the inlets of the Upper Waitemata Harbour. The coastline is physically, historically and spiritually close to its citizens and has an elemental role in the future well-being of the city and its inhabitants. The city’s coastline has been inhabited for close to 1,000 years. It has been a focus for Maori communities since 1100AD as it has been for later European settlers. The cultural heritage of all settlers is reflected in many features of the present-day coastline. The Natural Environment Section of the Plan relates directly to the purpose and principles of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) and is derived from the requirements in: ? Section 5: the sustainable management purpose of the RMA, in particular, safeguarding the life-supporting capacity of air, water, soil and ecosystems ? Section 6: the preservation of the natural character of the coastal environment; the protection of outstanding natural features and landscapes; the protection of significant indigenous vegetation and habitats; the maintenance and enhancement of public access