What is a District Plan?

The South Waikato District Plan is the document that defines how we use, subdivide, and develop land in our district in a way that allows us to pass it on to future generations in good or even better condition.  This is the principle of ‘sustainable management’ that is the basis of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).

What is a rural zone?

The South Waikato district is predominantly rural.  Around 20% of the district’s population lives in the rural zone that is defined in the operative District Plan.  The rural population is projected to increase in the future.
Rural land-uses in the district have traditionally been pastoral such as beef, sheep and dairy farming, and forestry.  A broad range of other activities are carried out in the rural zones including recreation and tourism, horticulture, quarrying, home-based businesses and transport depots.

Zone Descriptions

The Rural zone is characterised by pastoral farmland, exotic forestry, remnants of indigenous vegetation, shelter and woodlot trees, abundant streams but few rivers, lakes and wetlands.  Buildings in general are scattered and often set back from roads.

However, lifestyle lot subdivision has created a range of residential options in the Rural zone beyond those associated with farming.  Much of this development has occurred around Tokoroa, Putaruru, and Tirau.  Lot sizes are variable in this zone, but subdivision rules manage the number of smaller lots that can be created.

The Rural Residential zone covers more discrete areas around the townships and along the Waikato River.  Buildings will be at a much higher density than in the Rural zone, giving the zone a unique rural residential character.

The district plan allows a range of activities within the rural zones without resource consent.  Major examples include agricultural activities that don’t involve the enclosure of livestock such as pigs.  Up to five houses per lot are also permitted as of right, depending on the size of property.  Activities that currently require resource consent include tourist accommodation, motor sport recreation activities, industrial or trade processes such as saw-milling, and permitted activities that don’t meet the performance standards for the zone (such as a building that is located within the setback areas at the front or side boundaries).

The character of the rural zone has changed and will continue to change in response to economic, environmental and social factors.  However, the environmental effects of dairying and even less intensive types of farming on water quality mean that this may not be a suitable land-use in some areas.  The need to retire some areas from pastoral farming may make lifestyle or residential subdivision seem a more attractive option.  However, care is needed to prevent urban sprawl, inefficient use of land and energy resources, and loss of rural character.
Some of the matters that may be considered as part of the review include:

• Pastoral farming is a permitted activity in the rural zone and is not required to meet any performance standards under the current district plan.  Should performance standards for farming be introduced to reduce the potential adverse environmental effects such as degraded water quality and greenhouse gas emissions?
• Which activities should be permitted in the rural zones?
• Is rural lifestyle lot subdivision an appropriate way to reduce the adverse effects of pastoral farming in vulnerable catchments?
• What controls need to be placed on rural subdivision to retain rural character and prevent urban sprawl into the rural area?