SECTION 42A REPORT Report on submissions and further submissions on the Proposed Waikato District Plan - Stage 1 Hearing 21B: Landscapes Report prepared by: Jane Macartney 6 August 2020 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 12 1.1 Qualifications and experience ............................................................................................................. 12 1.2 Code of Conduct ................................................................................................................................... 13 1.3 Conflict of Interest ................................................................................................................................. 13 1.4 Preparation of this report .................................................................................................................... 13 2 Scope of Report ............................................................................................................................................... 13 3 Operative Waikato District Plan ................................................................................................................. 14 3.1 Waikato Section of the OWDP ......................................................................................................... 14 3.2 Franklin Section of the OWDP ........................................................................................................... 15 3.3 Proposed Waikato District Plan ......................................................................................................... 18 3.4 Statutory requirements ......................................................................................................................... 19 4 Consideration of submissions received ...................................................................................................... 36 4.1 Overview of submissions ...................................................................................................................... 36 4.2 Structure of this report ........................................................................................................................ 37 4.3 Methodology for assessing landscape and natural character ....................................................... 37 4.3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 37 4.3.2 Submission ........................................................................................................................................... 37 4.3.3 Analysis ................................................................................................................................................. 37 4.3.4 4.3.4 Recommended amendments and section 32AA evaluation .......................................... 38 4.3.5 4.3.5 Recommendation ..................................................................................................................... 38 5 PART A: OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES ..................................................................................................... 38 5.1 Chapter 3: Natural Environment ........................................................................................................ 38 5.2 Section 3.3 Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes ......................................................... 38 5.2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 38 5.2.2 Submissions ......................................................................................................................................... 40 5.2.3 Analysis ................................................................................................................................................. 46 Section 3.3 Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes ....................................................................... 46 Policy 3.3.2 – Recognising values and qualities .............................................................................................. 49 5.2.4 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................. 51 5.2.5 Recommended amendments ........................................................................................................... 53 5.2.6 Section 32AA Evaluation .................................................................................................................. 54 5.2 Section 3.4 Significant Amenity Landscapes ..................................................................................... 55 5.2.7 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 55 5.2.8 5.2.2 Submissions ............................................................................................................................... 55 5.2.9 Analysis ................................................................................................................................................. 59 Section 3.4 Significant Amenity Landscapes ................................................................................................... 59 Proposed Waikato District Plan Hearing 21B Landscapes Section 42A Hearing Report 3 Objective 3.4.1 Significant Amenity Landscapes ........................................................................................... 60 Policy 6.4.2 Recognising Significant Amenity Landscapes ........................................................................... 60 Policy 3.4.3 Maintaining and enhancing Significant Amenity Landscapes ................................................. 60 Policy 3.4.4 The relationship of Maaori with their resources and land .................................................. 63 5.2.10 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 63 5.2.11 Recommended amendments and section 32AA evaluation ................................................ 64 5.3 Section 3.5 Natural Character ............................................................................................................ 65 5.3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 65 5.3.2 Submissions ......................................................................................................................................... 66 5.3.3 Analysis ................................................................................................................................................. 70 Section 3.5 Natural Character .......................................................................................................................... 71 Objective 3.5.1 Natural Character .................................................................................................................. 71 Policy 3.5.2 – Recognising natural character ................................................................................................. 71 Policy 3.5.3 Protecting the natural character qualities of the coastal environment ............................. 72 Policy 3.5.4 Protecting the natural character of wetlands, and lakes and rivers and their margins . 73 5.3.4 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................. 75 5.3.5 Recommended amendments ........................................................................................................... 76 5.3.6 Section 32AA Evaluation .................................................................................................................. 77 6 PART B: RULES ................................................................................................................................................ 78 6.1 Permitted Activities in Significant Amenity Landscapes ................................................................ 78 6.1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 78 6.1.2 Submission ........................................................................................................................................... 78 6.1.3 Analysis ................................................................................................................................................. 78 6.1.4 Recommendation ............................................................................................................................... 79 7 Earthworks in Landscape and Natural Character Areas ........................................................................ 80 7.1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 80 7.1.2 Area and volume thresholds for earthworks in notified version of PWDP ........................ 80 7.1.3 Submissions ........................................................................................................................................