“Pure effects-based” plans
Description
As their name suggests, these are plans based around environmental effects rather than the activities that generate them (so that the type of activity that is managed may not actually be mentioned) For convenience some plans group effects into management areas based on the perceived acceptability of the effects in that area or the particular values to be maintained.
Sample organisation
Contents
The City’s Environment
Maps (water resources, landscapes and landforms, vegetation)
Tangata Whenua
Issue – Effects on Water Quality
- Objectives, policies, methods
- Monitoring indicators and anticipated environmental results
Issue – Effects on Native Vegetation and Fauna
- Objectives, policies, methods
- Monitoring indicators and anticipated environmental results
Issue – Effects on Land
- Objectives, policies, methods
- Monitoring indicators and anticipated environmental results
Issue – Effects on Ecosystem Stability
- Objectives, policies, methods
- Monitoring indicators and anticipated environmental results
Issue – Effects on Amenity Values, Health and Safety
- Objectives, policies, methods
- Monitoring indicators and anticipated environmental results
Issue – Effects on Heritage
- Objectives, policies, methods
- Monitoring indicators and anticipated environmental results
Explanation of Objectives Policies and Methods
City-wide Rules (including definitions, information requirements and prohibited activities)
Natural Environment Rules
- Vegetation alteration
- Earthworks
- Impermeable surfaces
- Buildings
Human Environment Rules
- Residential density
- Building location, height and scale
- Privacy and amenity
- Non residential uses
- Carparking and driveways
- Noise
- Signs
- Infrastructure
Note that the above rules are duplicated across the following:
- Living environment
- Open space environment
- Community environment
- Working environment
- Countryside environment
- Coastal villages environment
Scheduled Sites
Special Areas
Subdivision Rules
Maps
Advantages
- Management techniques are more directly linked to the environmental effects they seek to manage (ie, the plan starts with the effects that are to be managed and provisions are allocated to those effects as appropriate). This is consistent with the philosophy of the RMA being an ‘effects-based’ statute.
- The plan is adaptable to new activities not originally anticipated by the local authority (ie, there is potential to accommodate any activity provided the effects of the activity are managed in accordance with the plan).
Disadvantages
- Those checking whether an activity complies with a plan may need to read all or most of the plan to determine whether a resource consent is required, and what for.
- Reading and working out the implications of the plan can be difficult for the public (effects-based decision making does not provide for quick and easy answers at the front counter or over the phone).
- There may be lack of certainty for applicants who do not understand or have information on all the effects that may relate to their proposal.
- Plan drafters need to be certain that all possible effects have been considered to avoid undesirable activities becoming permitted through oversight.
- Requires good information on all effects types and thresholds of what is acceptable in any given area.
