Built environment / He taiao kua hangahanga whare

Issue

Infrastructure used for water and power supply, transportation, telecommunications, flood protection, waste disposal and renewable energy generation can lead to issues for people affected by new and potentially sensitive land uses.

Causes

Sensitive activities that seek to establish close to an existing activity may create amenity effects (such as noise or visual impacts). For example, proposed new dwellings close to a flight path or main road. Management of these effects can become difficult when the established activity is part of essential infrastructure such as buildings, roads, and power supplies.

Why it matters

Regionally significant infrastructure and essential structures enable the wellbeing of the Waitaha/Canterbury community, by providing services such as transport routes, electricity distribution and protection from floods. It is important to manage reverse sensitivity effects to protect the ongoing use of important infrastructure as well as the wellbeing of nearby communities. An example of this is avoiding subdivision near the Christchurch International Airport, where the noise of planes taking off and landing could negatively affect people’s wellbeing.

Our current goals

Our Regional Policy Statement includes some direction that must be implemented and other direction that should be implemented. We have included these in two categories below:

1. Things we must do

This is very strong policy direction that is required to be implemented:

• To avoid detrimental effects on the stability, performance, operation, maintenance, upgrade, and repair of essential structures.
• To protect the stability, performance, operation, and maintenance of essential structures that are in, on, under or over a river or lake bed or its bank or margin.

2. Things we should do

This policy direction is strongly encouraged:

• Investigate and, where appropriate, promote alternative, less invasive or indigenous vegetation for bank stabilisation and flood protection works, than for example, willow or wattle species.

Should we change our goals?

When we consider changing goals, we need to keep in mind that other on-the-ground changes will be required to meet them. We also need to keep in mind that some of our must-do policy direction was necessary to meet the national legislation requirements of the time. Some new must-dos will be needed to meet more recent legislation.

Potential impacts of changing our policy direction

We have outlined some of the potential consequences that could result from changing our policy direction. These are high-level examples, just to illustrate that each change will have flow-on effects.

For example, if we increase the protection for infrastructure, it could reduce our ability to build more homes for people in certain areas. Less protection for infrastructure could result in service providers needing to raise the costs for their services (or raise rates) to be able to reduce the noise or visual impact of their activity.

We are using the feedback we received in July and August to draft more detailed policy options, including detail about the consequences of change. You will get another opportunity to tell us what you think about those options in October this year.

Issue

While urban development is essential for wellbeing, it must be strategically integrated and appropriately designed. Poorly considered development can cause significant environmental harm and greenhouse gas emissions, drive risks to homes and infrastructure from natural hazards and climate change, and alter the character of rural areas.

Causes

The primary causes include mismanagement of development, inappropriate design and location of infrastructure, and a lack of strategic integration between land use and infrastructure.

Why it matters

Mismanaged development threatens environmental resilience, has the potential to contaminate land and water bodies, and may impact Ngāi Tahu values. Inappropriate development can harm the economy, food production, and biodiversity, while a lack of strategic integration can result in inefficient and costly development. All these issues undermine the goal of achieving sustainable growth, balancing social, economic, and cultural benefits with environmental conservation.

The urban form has impacts on greenhouse gas emissions from land use, buildings, energy, waste and notably transport. Communities in Waitaha/Canterbury face high and extreme risks due to a variety of climate change hazards, particularly river flooding and reductions in community cohesion.

Our current goals

Our Regional Policy Statement includes some direction that must be implemented and other direction that should be implemented. We have included these in two categories below:

1. Things we must do

This is very strong policy direction that is required to be implemented:

• Ensure land and natural resource use is sustainable by balancing development and growth with environmental conservation. This includes providing adequate capacity for housing and business land in areas of urban development to satisfy the anticipated demands of the region.
• Safeguard highly productive land from inappropriate subdivision, use, and development.
• Coordinate land use and infrastructure development to promote efficient and sustainable urban growth and well-functioning urban environments.
• Respect and protect the cultural values and associations of Ngāi Tahu with their ancestral lands, water, sites, wāhi tapu, and other taonga.

2. Things we should do

This policy direction is strongly encouraged:

• Encourage high-quality urban design that enhances the character and function of urban areas.
• Improve accessibility to a range of transport options including public and active modes of transport, services, and amenities within urban areas.

Should we change our goals?

When we consider changing goals, we need to keep in mind that other on-the-ground changes will be required to meet them. We also need to keep in mind that some of our must-do policy direction was necessary to meet the national legislation requirements of the time. Some new must-dos will be needed to meet more recent legislation.

Potential impacts of changing our policy direction

We have outlined some of the potential consequences that could result from changing our policy direction. These are high-level examples, just to illustrate that each change will have flow-on effects.

For example, achieving the goal of consolidated sustainable management and protection of highly productive land may mean that we need to reconsider how and where we allow urban development to occur. For instance, we may need to limit the expansion of urban areas to protect highly productive land and preserve it for future generations, or to prevent an increase in greenhouse gas emissions from unconsolidated growth. This could potentially mean higher density living in existing urban areas, which may change the character of some neighbourhoods.

We are using feedback we received in July and August to draft more detailed policy options, including detail about the consequences of change. You will get another opportunity to tell us what you think about those options in October this year.

Issue

Inappropriate use, development and subdivision of land can lead to the loss or degradation of historic cultural and heritage values that contribute to a regional sense of identity.

Causes

Historic cultural and heritage items (such as monuments, buildings, or artifacts) and places are identified in district plans. Lists included in district plans are sourced from a variety of places including the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Heritage list, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Papatipu Rūnanga information, and community submissions. Not all items and places are identified, and historic cultural and heritage landscapes are frequently missing from district plans. Items, places, and landscapes that are not identified and protected in district plans are vulnerable to the effects of inappropriate use, development and subdivision of land. This can cause irreversible loss of historic values. Natural disasters, like the Christchurch and Kaikōura earthquakes, can also lead to the damage and loss of historic items and places (such as urupā and wāhi tapu), and sea level rise and coastal erosion resulting from climate change threaten coastal historic cultural and heritage items and places.

Why it matters

Historic cultural and heritage items, places, and landscapes provide a record of the history of Waitaha/Canterbury including Māori and European settlement, sites, stories, and traditions. The historic heritage of Waitaha/Canterbury suffered major losses in the Ōtautahi/Christchurch and Kaikōura earthquakes, resulting in an increased desire to protect what is left. Historic cultural places such as marae, urupā, sites of archaeological significance, landmarks, trails, and cultural landscapes are particularly important to the culture, identity and wellbeing of Ngāi Tahu whānau. Inappropriate use, development and subdivision of land can lead to a loss of our historical record that cannot be replaced.

Our current goals

Our Regional Policy Statement includes some direction that must be implemented and other direction that should be implemented. We have included these in two categories below:

1. Things we must do

This is very strong policy direction that is required to be implemented:

• Identification and protection of significant historic and cultural heritage items, places, and areas.
• Identification and management of other important historic heritage items, places, and areas.
• Management of the effects of use, development and subdivision of land on cultural and heritage landscapes, especially in the coastal environment.

2. Things we should do

This policy direction is strongly encouraged:

• Protection of appropriate access and restriction of inappropriate access to historic cultural and heritage items, places, and areas in accordance with tikanga Māori (customs and protocols).
• Enabling the appropriate repair, rebuilding, upgrading, seismic strengthening and adaptive re-use of historic buildings in a manner that is sensitive to their historic values.

Should we change our goals?

When we consider changing goals, we need to keep in mind that other on-the-ground changes will be required to meet them. We also need to keep in mind that some of our must-do policy direction was necessary to meet the national legislation requirements of the time. Some new must-dos will be needed to meet more recent legislation.

Potential impacts of changing our policy direction

We have outlined some of the potential consequences that could result from changing our policy direction. These are high-level examples, just to illustrate that each change will have flow-on effects.

Increasing identification and protection of historic cultural and heritage items, places and landscapes, is important to safeguard these environments for future generations. Protecting these environments and items, however, does require restrictions or controls on some activities that could otherwise have lasting adverse effects on their values. Greater levels of protection could require consideration of a wider range of land uses or activities that need to be managed near sensitive environments or items.

We are using feedback we received in July and August to draft more detailed policy options, including detail about the consequences of change. You will get another opportunity to tell us what you think about those options in October this year.

Issue

The production, distribution and use of energy in Waitaha/Canterbury can be summarised by four main issues: balancing the effects and benefits of renewable electricity generation; inefficient energy consumption; adverse effects of the production, distribution and use of energy; and maintaining and increasing the security of energy supply.

Causes

Renewable electricity projects tend to be located close to natural electricity sources such as large rivers used for producing hydroelectricity, which can create conflicts with a wide range of environmental and community-held values that raise issues of scale and location.

Inefficient energy consumption is essentially wasted energy. Examples of this include running electronics when not necessary, poor insulation, and old equipment.

Electricity generation may result in land being flooded for hydro lakes. The upgrade, maintenance and refurbishment of existing infrastructure can impact terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity. The distribution of energy through transmission line networks, or extraction of mineral fuels such as coal or oil, can have adverse effects on landscapes. The use of carbon-based fuels in the transport sector or for residential heating (wood or coal fires) can create localised problems such as degradation of local air quality.

When energy supply is disrupted, people are unable to continue living in a normal way. Climate change is expected to increase risks to energy supply as we experience more extreme weather events and drought.

Why it matters

Energy is relied upon in every aspect of daily life and is a basic requirement to life, providing transport, shelter, warmth and sustenance.

Electricity generation can affect the relationship that Ngāi Tahu has with resources, including wāhi tapu, wāhi taonga and ancestral lands and water. In particular, the damming of rivers affects the mauri and the mahinga kai resources associated with those rivers and, ultimately, the ability for Ngāi Tahu as mana whenua to act effectively as kaitiaki (guardians).

To respond to climate change, we will also need to produce a huge amount of new renewable energy, while reducing the high risk to energy production and transmission due to drought, flooding, and extreme weather.

Our current goals

Our Regional Policy Statement includes some direction that must be implemented and other direction that should be implemented.

1. Things we must do

This is very strong policy direction that must be implemented:

• To provide for efficient, reliable and resilient electricity generation within Canterbury.
• To provide for the development, operation, maintenance, and upgrading of new and existing renewable electricity generation activities using solar, biomass, tidal, wave and ocean current energy resources, hydroelectricity, wind energy and geothermal resources.

2. Things we should do

This policy direction is strongly encouraged:

• To promote the efficient end-use of energy.
• Encourage and provide for the operation maintenance and development of small and community-scale distributed renewable electricity generation.
• To promote more initiatives to protect and enhance Canterbury’s indigenous biodiversity.
• To recognise and provide for the local, regional and national benefits when considering proposed or existing renewable energy generation facilities.
• To encourage a reliable and resilient national electricity transmission network within Canterbury.

Should we change our goals?

When we consider changing goals, we need to keep in mind that other on-the-ground changes will be required to meet them. We also need to keep in mind that some of our must-do policy direction was necessary to meet the national legislation requirements of the time. Some new must-dos will be needed to meet more recent legislation.

Potential impacts of changing our policy direction

We have outlined some of the potential consequences that could result from changing our policy direction. These are high-level examples, just to illustrate that each change will have flow-on effects.

For example, providing pathways for renewable energy generation is a critical component of our response to climate change. However, the benefits of renewable energy generation still need to be balanced with any adverse effects. The infrastructure required to extract renewable energy most often needs to be located at the source (e.g., hydroelectricity dams). Where these locations are in sensitive environments it can be difficult to manage adverse effects.

We are using feedback we received in July and August to draft more detailed policy options, including detail about the consequences of change. You will get another opportunity to tell us what you think about those options in October this year.

Issue

The Waitaha/Canterbury region faces escalating natural hazards made worse by climate change that may significantly impact communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure.

Causes

The region's natural hazards primarily arise from geographical and climatic conditions, worsened by climate change. These hazards are further complicated by development and the adverse effects of mitigation efforts (such as flood control measures like stop-banks, or land stabilisation methods like tree planting or retaining walls).

Why it matters

The increasing threat of natural hazards poses substantial risks to infrastructure, biodiversity, and the overall health of the region, while also affecting social, economic, and cultural wellbeing. Inaccurate risk assessments can lead to inappropriate development, while efforts to mitigate the risks from natural hazards can inadvertently cause environmental damage and offer a false sense of security. Additionally, climate change is exacerbating these hazards, making proactive planning and risk management even more crucial.

Our current goals

Our Regional Policy Statement includes some direction that must be implemented and other direction that should be implemented. We have included these in two categories below:

1. Things we must do

This is very strong policy direction that is required to be implemented:

• Avoid development in areas where the potential risk from natural hazards is too high. This includes areas prone to severe or rapidly flowing floods during an extreme flooding event, an event that has a 1 in 500 chance of occurring in any given year.
• Mitigate the risks of development in areas that could be affected by a natural hazard event, such as a flood event with a 1 in 200 chance of happening in any given year, by implementing measures such as raising floor levels or employing other flood mitigation strategies.
• Manage the adverse effects of natural hazard mitigation works, including ensuring that mitigation works do not negatively impact the environment or the social, economic, and cultural wellbeing of the community.
• Incorporate the impact of climate change on natural hazards into all planning and decision-making processes.

2. Things we should do

This policy direction is strongly encouraged:

• Develop and implement strategies to manage the risks associated with natural hazards.

Should we change our goals?

When we consider changing goals, we need to keep in mind that other on-the-ground changes will be required to meet them. We also need to keep in mind that some of our must-do policy direction was necessary to meet the national legislation requirements of the time. Some new must-dos will be needed to meet more recent legislation.

Potential impacts of changing our policy direction

We have outlined some of the potential consequences that could result from changing our policy direction. These are high-level examples, just to illustrate that each change will have flow-on effects.

For example, implementing comprehensive risk management strategies for natural hazards may require significant resources. However, it's important to remember that while these strategies require an upfront investment, they can help prevent much larger costs in the future associated with damage from unmitigated natural hazards. Therefore, we must balance our immediate needs with the long-term sustainability and safety of our community.

We are using feedback we received in July and August to draft more detailed policy options, including detail about the consequences of change. You will get another opportunity to tell us what you think about those options in October this year.