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).

Why do we need a District Plan?

The RMA requires the Council to prepare a district plan to promote sustainable management of the district’s natural and physical resources.  All land use activities have an effect on the environment.  The aim of the plan is to minimise these effects by locating activities in suitable areas such as industrial activities in the industrial zone rather than the residential zone.

Who does the District Plan affect?

The district plan affects in some way everyone who lives, works, and owns or leases land in the district.  The plan does this by providing a set of rules and guidelines about what can and cannot be done in different parts of the district.

What’s in the District Plan?

The district plan details the issues facing the district, the objectives for land use management, and the policies and rules that are used to achieve these objectives.  The district plan also sets out the criteria for resource consents (land use and subdivision), basically giving a clear picture of where and when resource consents are required and for which activities.  There are many variables and lots of criteria so it pays to ask council staff if you need some help.  As well as being the ‘book of rules’ the district plan also includes maps showing ‘zones’ and other features such as roads that could be widened in the future.

So, what are some of the issues it deals with?

• What activities you (and your neighbour) can undertake on your land;
• How actual, or potential, effects of the use, development, or protection of land will be managed;
• Natural hazards such as flooding, stormwater ponding and geotechnical matters;
• Storage, use, disposal, or transportation of hazardous substances;
• Subdivision of land in the urban and rural areas of the district;
• Management of noise;
• Signs, their placement and size;
• Protection of natural and cultural heritage.

• Whether you can subdivide or put an extra house on your land;
• How far from the boundary you can locate your new house;
• How high you can build;
• How much of the section you can build on;
• How much noise you can make;
• What other activities you can do on your property, and your neighbour can do on theirs.

• Protection of wetlands, lakes and rivers;
• Protection of outstanding natural features and landscapes;
• Protection of significant indigenous vegetation and habitats of indigenous fauna;
• Public access to and along lakes and rivers;
• The relationship of Maori and their culture and traditions with ancestral lands, water, sites, waahi tapu and other taonga.
• Protection of historic heritage; and
• Protection of recognised customary activities.