Energy, Infrastructure and Transport

Energy

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What are the key issues we need to think about?

The use and development of renewable energy provides benefits to the District and can deliver clean, secure, affordable energy. It is important to recognise the benefits that energy related activities provide our communities while ensuring that their adverse effects are avoided, remedied or mitigated.

Energy efficiency and the use and development of renewable energy are matters the District Plan must have particular regard to under section 7 of the RMA. The District Plan must also give effect to the National Policy Statement on Renewable Electricity Generation 2011, (NPSREG) which requires recognition of the benefits of renewable electricity generation. Currently the Operative Plan has no provisions relating to renewable energy, other than provisions for the Waitaki Power Scheme. The Operative Plan has not been amended to give effect to the NPSREG or either of the two relevant Regional Policy Statements, in respect of promoting and providing for renewable electricity generation.

The types of renewable energy sources relevant to this District are solar, biomass, hydro and wind. At a domestic scale, there are various ways to use natural sources of energy, including solar water heating or solar panels and small wind turbines. In addition, emerging technologies for other sources of energy, such as hydrogen, offer potential for a transition to a low-emission economy.

What are we suggesting in the Draft District Plan?

The Energy chapter covers renewable energy generation activities, with the general renewable energy provisions in Part A of the chapter The chapter is silent on other energy generation, given this is not a feature of the Waitaki District.

Permitted activities include maintenance of renewable energy generation activities, small scale renewable electricity generation and investigation activities, providing that the activities do not take place in an overlay and comply with relevant standards.

Resource consent is required if standards are not complied with or where activities take place within an overlay.

Part B of the chapter addresses the Waitaki Power Scheme (WPS). The chapter recognises the national significance of this scheme and provides for day-to-day operation, maintenance and refurbishment. Enhancement and expansion of the WPS would require a resource consent as would new generation opportunities. The WPS is protected from reverse sensitivity effects by placing limits on the development of occupied buildings in areas at risk in a possible inundation event. The mapping associated with this chapter can be viewed here.

Key changes from the current rules

This chapter is a new, standalone chapter. The chapter focuses on recognising the benefits of renewable electricity generation and provides for such activities, while recognising that adverse effects on the environment can result.

What does it mean for me?

Any lawfully established existing businesses or activities would have what is referred to as ‘existing use rights’ and could continue to operate unchanged.

This chapter provides for renewable energy generation in the district with most activities permitted so long as they do not take place in an overlay and meet certain standards. The standards to be met include maximum sizes for solar panels, wind turbines, and hydro generators, restrictions on investigation activities, and minimisation of effects on indigenous vegetation.

Infrastructure

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What are the key issues we need to think about?

Infrastructure is critical to the social and economic well-being of people and communities, including providing for their health and safety. Infrastructure networks enable a community to undertake its everyday activities and functions. Infrastructure generally encompasses physical services and facilities which enable society to function, such as the Three Waters network, transport, communications, energy generation and distribution networks, and any other network utilities.

It is therefore important to enable its ongoing operation, maintenance, upgrading and establishment where possible. It is also necessary that essential infrastructure is protected, where possible, from further encroachment by incompatible activities which may be subject to reverse sensitivity.

While infrastructure can have national, regional and local benefits, it can also have adverse effects on surrounding land uses and the environment. Poorly designed or inappropriately located infrastructure can adversely affect amenity values and the district’s sensitive environments, such as outstanding landscapes.

What are we suggesting in the Draft District Plan?

The draft District Plan locates the majority of infrastructure provisions within this chapter and the Energy Chapter (stormwater and transport are located in their own chapters).

Typically, infrastructure activities would only be subject to the rules and standards in the Infrastructure Chapter as well as the Energy Chapter, Part B: Waitaki Power Scheme. This includes infrastructure located in the sensitive environment overlay chapters (such as Sites and Areas of Significance to Māori (SASM chapter) or Outstanding Natural Landscapes (NFL chapter).

Protection is offered to land recognised in overlays as vulnerable to the effects of infrastructure – with more direction and guidance on how infrastructure would be addressed in sensitive areas.

The chapter is split into Part A which contains the general infrastructure provisions. Part B contains provisions specific to the National Grid Network. New provisions (such as the introduction of new setbacks and corridors for the National Grid as well as other electricity distribution corridors) would provide better protection of infrastructure by avoiding reverse sensitivity effects.

The National Grid is included in the Draft District Plan mapping available on our website.

A National Grid Substation Buffer referenced in both the chapter and definitions of the Draft District Plan will be mapped for the Proposed District Plan.

Key changes from the current rules

While the Operative District Plan includes a Utilities chapter, that covers all infrastructure, the draft plan includes an Infrastructure chapter and also separate chapters covering Energy (and the Waitaki Power Scheme) and Stormwater.

  • New provisions would seek to protect infrastructure by avoiding reverse sensitivity effects on it –through the introduction of new setbacks and corridors for the following:
  1. New National Grid Yard, Corridor and Substation Yard – which would manage buildings, sensitive activities and earthworks near the National Grid (including its substations)
  2. an electricity distribution yard that would manage buildings and sensitive activities near electricity distribution corridors.
  • Management of noise sensitive activities near the rail corridor and state highways – primarily through acoustic requirements for habitable rooms (these are rules found in the NOISE chapter).

What does it mean for me?

Any lawfully established existing businesses or activities would have what is referred to as ‘existing use rights’ and could continue to operate unchanged.

Infrastructure would continue to support the Waitaki District as it changes and grows. Most infrastructure would be a permitted activity where standards and conditions are complied with. Resource consent would be required where the activities do not comply with standards or conditions.

Some activities, including infrastructure in overlays, wastewater treatment plants, structures above 900m altitude, coastal flood and erosion and river flood protection works, and water reservoirs, wells and intakes for public water supply would always require a resource consent.

Stormwater

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What are the key issues we need to think about?

Stormwater run-off generated from subdivision and development can have adverse effects on property, communities and their environments. These effects can include nuisance effects on neighbouring properties, waterway flooding and contaminants entering rivers and the coastal environment. Ōamaru and other urban areas of the district experience flooding due to the number of waterbodies within the district, the capacity of existing infrastructure and the climate, which is changing.

Since the current District Plan was first proposed in the mid 1990’s there has been an evolution in stormwater management. Where once the focus was on end-of-pipe treatment, the focus is now on reduction at source and on-site management, including re-use of stormwater to help adapt to possible changes in rainfall patterns due to climate change. Hydraulic neutrality measures are now commonplace and important means used by councils to manage peak stormwater runoff from subdivision and development.

The key issue this draft chapter addresses is ensuring that any subdivision or development does not increase the rate or extent of stormwater runoff onto adjacent properties or the stormwater network.

What are we suggesting in the Draft District Plan?

The key objective of the draft chapter is to achieve stormwater quantity neutrality from subdivisions and development in urban zones – that is, there is no increased flooding risk or increase in peak demand on stormwater management systems from subdivision and development.

The relevant standards require new allotments to have a connection to Council’s stormwater system where that is available, and in urban zones there is a requirement for all subdivisions to achieve hydraulic neutrality for a critical duration, using an accepted solution.

As part of reduction at source, the Draft District Plan is introducing minimum permeable surface standards for some urban zones in order to limit impervious surfaces. Where development in urban zones causes a breach of the minimum permeable surface area set by the zone standards, hydraulic neutrality is required.

A new appendix to the draft District Plan provides guidance for landowners and developers developing up to 10 residential lots and includes an accepted solution for an onsite detention tank to manage stormwater discharge changes from a typical residential development. Where either the size of the subdivision, or building size exceeds the ‘typical’ detailed in the appendix, specific design for an accepted solution is likely to be required.

Key changes from the current rules

Stormwater objectives, policies, rules and standards are shifting from the Subdivision chapter in the Operative District Plan, to this new stormwater specific chapter, in line with the requirements of the National Planning Standards.

  • Hydraulic neutrality is a new concept being included in the Plan for the fist time. This is designed to ensure that development does not increase the amount of stormwater leaving a site.
  • Minimum permeable surface standards are also being included in the Plan for the first time.

What does it mean for me?

Any lawfully established existing activities would have what is referred to as ‘existing use rights’ and could continue to operate unchanged.

For a new subdivision to proceed without the need for a resource consent, certain standards must be met. These include the need to provide a connection to the Council’s stormwater network where it is available, and in urban areas a requirement for hydraulic neutrality.

To achieve hydraulic neutrality, sites may need some means of on-site disposal or storage of stormwater.

Transport

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What are the key issues we need to think about?

Activities that generate high volumes of traffic may have significant adverse effects on the transport network and its users as well as adversely affect the amenity of adjacent land use activities.

Land use and development can adversely affect the safety and efficiency of the transport network and people’s health and well-being if on-site transport facilities (vehicle access, parking, manoeuvering and loading facilities) are inappropriately designed and linked to the transport network.

What are we suggesting in the Draft District Plan?

The Transport chapter deals with on-site transport facilities and the effects of high vehicle trip generating activities. Standards have been suggested, and any activities that do not comply with these standards would require a resource consent.

Provisions covering the transport network itself are contained in the Infrastructure chapter. The rules for the operation, maintenance and repair, upgrading and development of the transport network are located in the Infrastructure chapter, as required by the National Planning Standards.

It should also be noted that the State Highways and local roads are designated under the Operative District Plan and these designations will be rolled over in the Proposed District Plan. Designations, which often cover essential infrastructure (like roads, water treatment plants or sewerage treatment plants) have the effect of ‘trumping’ or superseding a District Plan’s rules, where the works involved (such as a bridge or road upgrade or widening or maintenance) are for the stated purpose of the designation.

Key changes from the current rules

The Draft District Plan largely carries over the Operative Plan provisions, but updates them in accordance with best practice changes in technical standards. It also introduces better management of high traffic generating activities to ensure the traffic network is not unduly affected by significant new activities.

There are no minimum car parking requirements, in line with the requirements specified in the National Policy Statement for Urban Development (2020).

What does it mean for me?

Any lawfully established existing activities would have what is referred to as ‘existing use rights’ and could continue to operate unchanged.

If you require a new vehicle crossing onto a road, or are developing a site for a business there are various rules and standards around how and where vehicle crossings are located, as well as standards for any parking spaces provided, loading and bicycle facilities. Provided the standards are complied with, a resource consent would not be required. Activities that do not meet the standards would require a resource consent.

There are also thresholds set for various activities that might generate high numbers of vehicle trips to and from a site. The thresholds are based on the road type, size of a development, floor area of commercial activity, or number of people attending and exceeding the thresholds would require a resource consent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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