Te Mata¯ Peak's eastern face protected by plan change
A plan change to prohibit new buildings on the eastern face of Te Mata¯ Peak has been adopted by the Hastings District Council.
The council said the aim of the plan change, which includes the face from Waima¯ rama Rd to the top of the peak, is to acknowledge and protect the “significance and value of this outstanding natural landscape for both current and future generations”.
Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the proposed plan change came about after the building of the Craggy Range Track. The track, which was granted consent by the Hastings District Council, prompted serious objections from mana whenua and resulted in a costly remediation programme.
Hazlehurst said: “The proposed plan change is a legacy decision, ensuring comprehensive and longlasting protection of the natural attributes of this landscape.”
Hastings District Council Heretaunga Takato Noa Ma¯ori standing committee member Mike Paku said mana whenua had been working since December 2017 to get the appropriate protection regulatory framework in place.
“This achievement also comes with a tinge of sadness that a number of staunch kauma¯tua — Ata Morrell, Waa Harris, Robert McDonald to name a few — are no longer with us to witness the establishment of the prohibition line.
“The numerous hapu¯ of Te Mata¯ o Rongokako mihi to the two current landowners for their recognition of mana whenua aspirations for permanent protection of our maunga Tu¯ puna.”
The proposed plan change would prohibit the construction of new buildings and limit other works (eg fencing and planting) on the eastern escarpment of Te Mata¯, from Waima¯ rama Rd to the top of the peak.
In addition, the proposed changes would help ensure the council met its obligations under Part 2 of the Resource Management Act 1991, by ensuring that the relationship of Ma¯ori and their traditions with their ancestral lands, water, sites, wa¯hi tapu and other taonga were appropriately recognised and provided for.
There are two private properties affected by the change: 282 Waima¯rama Rd and 344 Waima¯rama Rd. The landowners at 282 Waima¯rama Rd have a consent through a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for the construction of two dwellings and a supplementary unit on the property. Following negotiations, the property owners have agreed to relocate the buildings to less visible locations.
The relocation has resulted in a loss of value of $351,000 including GST as assessed by independent valuation advice, and the owners have been compensated for this loss. The landowners have voluntarily given up further development rights on their whole property, including the flats adjacent to Waima¯rama Rd.
The council would provide funding support for landscape design, architectural design and associated survey costs of $30,000 plus GST to the landowners to achieve the best visual and cultural outcomes.
For both properties, registered land covenants would be put in place that put rules around the planting of shelter belts, exotic forestry and fencing, to protect the natural landscape.
The plan change comes into effect immediately to offer protection in the interim ahead of the council publicly notifying a change to the District Plan to move the building prohibition line to Waima¯rama Rd.