Proposed Bay of Plenty Regional Coastal Environment Plan 2014
Biodiversity Areas and
Outstanding Natural Features
and Landscapes
The Proposed Bay of Plenty Regional Coastal
Environment Plan identifies areas of regionally significant
wildlife (biodiversity) or natural landscape value.
They’re called Indigenous Biological Diversity Areas or
Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes.
The significant areas are shown on the maps in Part
Seven of the Proposed Plan, and described in schedules
two and three. The Proposed Plan contains specific
policies and rules for these areas.
The specific policies and rules are designed to protect
these special parts of the coastal environment from the
potential negative effects of activities like building sea
walls or boat ramps, removing vegetation or dredging.
They’re also designed to enable appropriate restoration
work.
How will it affect you?
If you own land that is next to the sea, a harbour or
estuary that has significant natural values, your property
might be included in an area identified in the Proposed
Plan as:
▪▪ An Indigenous Biological Diversity Area A (IBDA A) –
87 areas have been identified.
▪▪ An Indigenous Biological Diversity Area B (IBDA B) –
134 areas have been identified.
▪▪ An Outstanding Natural Feature and Landscape
(ONFL) – 46 areas have been identified
If a small piece of your land is part of a special landscape
or biodiversity area, you will have been notified. Only
the part of your land with high landscape or biodiversity
values is affected by the Proposed Plan, not the entire
land parcel.
The rules in the Proposed Plan only apply to the coastal
If you own land that is next to the sea, a
harbour or estuary that has significant natural
values, your property might be included in a
special area identified in the Proposed Plan.
marine area (the sea, harbours and estuaries). Rules in
your local district or city plan control activities on the land
– your district or city council may make slight changes to
their plans to reflect the updated mapping.
This classification won’t affect any activities you already
have resource consent for. However it may affect you if
you have plans for development or want to do anything
new or different in the future.
The proposed rules are most restrictive in IBDA A sites
where commercial aquaculture, most reclamation, mining
and petroleum extraction, vehicle use and construction
of artificial watercourses, will not be allowed. Resource
consent will be needed for most other activities in IBDA
A areas and will only be granted if there’s a specific need
for those activities to take place in the coastal marine
area.
Need to know more?
Go to: www.boprc.govt.nz/
coastalplan
Or contact:
Jo Noble
Senior Planner
0800 884 881 Ext 9471
[email protected]
Marie Radford
Planning Administration Officer
0800 884 881 Ext 8328
[email protected]
What if you think your land has been inaccurately
identified?
We’ve worked hard to ensure our mapping is as accurate as possible.
There may still be locations where the mapping is incorrect. This could
be because it covers gardens, buildings, roads or driveways, consented
activities or recently planted exotic vegetation (such as plantation forestry).
In all these cases we are keen to correct the overlay. Please contact us
before 22 August 2014 if you think a correction is needed.
Why has your
land been
included?
Funding and assistance is
available for landowners and
community groups that want to
care for biodiversity in important
natural areas. Find out more at
www.boprc.govt.nz/biodiversity
or contact one of our Land
Management Officers by calling
0800 884 880.
Most of the Biodiversity
Areas and Outstanding
Natural Features and
Landscapes are already
identified as significant
in the current Regional
Coastal Environment
Plan 2003.
Three new Outstanding Natural
Features and Landscapes have
been added in the Proposed
Plan.
In the current plan they
are called Areas of
Significant Conservation
Value, Marshbird Habitat
Areas, Indigenous
Vegetation Areas, Coastal
Habitat Preservation
Zone or Natural Features
and Landscapes.
The 2003 classifications
have been reviewed
using recent aerial
photography and new
information from a range
of sources including NIWA, Department of Conservation and district and
city councils. Some site surveys were also completed. As a result, some
areas have been removed, added or the boundaries have been adjusted in
the Proposed Plan.
We’re required to do this work as part of our role in giving effect to the
Resource Management Act 1991 and New Zealand Coastal Policy
Statement 2010.
Three new Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes have been
added in the Proposed Plan. These are:
▪▪ Maketū Estuary and barrier spit
▪▪ Piripai Distal Spit and Whakatāne River mouth
▪▪ Pehitairi Point headland
Further information on how areas of significance were identified can be
found on our website www.boprc.govt.nz/coastalplan. There are two key
reports:
▪▪ Significant Natural Areas in the Coastal Environment 2012 - Wildland
Consultants Limited
▪▪ Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes: Bay of Plenty Coastal
Environment 2006 - Boffa Miskell Limited