Council to start consulting on landscape and natural values

At yesterday’s Council meeting staff were given the go ahead to start consultation with affected property owners on the proposed landscape and natural value District Plan changes.



Taupo District has some of the most outstanding scenery and unique examples of indigenous vegetation in New Zealand. This is largely due to a combination of ancient volcanic formations, complex mountain ranges, open frost flats, expansive fresh water lakes, and large areas of uninterrupted open space.



Council has a statutory obligation under the Resource Management Act to identify and protect these particular areas by managing their use, development and subdivision. This is to ensure the preservation of the Districts landscape and natural surrounds for future generations.



Council began the initial stages of the proposed landscape and natural value plan changes in 2004. Technical reports identifying important landscape and natural areas in the Taupo District were put together but proposed plan changes were put on hold in 2006 to allow for appropriate iwi consultation. Now that the first stages of iwi consultation have been undertaken, Council is in a position where it can continue these discussions, along with affected landowners, user-groups and the wider public.



Councillor Don Ormsby, who has been involved with this project in the past, congratulated staff on the progress made. “This process has been going on for sometime now – we just need to get on with it,” he said.



Councillor Kathryn Uvhagen supported this and also commended staff on the work that has gone into the project to date.



Deputy Mayor McElwee was in agreement with her fellow Councillors and added “This is a very difficult area of consultation and it will only succeed with the support of the property owners - they hold the key. Many are already providing excellent leadership with their current land management practices".



Officers are looking to work closely with landowners and interested parties and will be holding a series of public open days. The aim of the consultation is to verify the boundaries of the identified landscape and natural value areas, as per the technical studies that have been carried out and to collect affected property owners' ideas and suggestions on how best to protect and enhance areas of special value.



It is intended that consultation and development of the proposed provisions will occur in the first half of 2008 and notification is intended to take place in the second half the year.