ARC releases proposed mangrove management plan change decisions

16 February 2009

The Auckland Regional Council has released decisions on proposed changes to its policy on mangrove management.

Plan Change 4 will amend provisions in the Auckland Regional Plan: Coastal relating to mangroves and mangrove removal activities.

Chair of the Auckland Regional Council’s Regional Strategy and Planning Committee, Paul Walbran, has welcomed the decisions as an important step that will address the concerns many people have raised regarding mangroves.

“The decisions we have made reflect a balanced approach to mangroves recognising their ecological value on one hand, but also noting that mangroves have spread rapidly in some areas largely in response to the increased amount of sediment in waterways,” he said.

“Plan Change 4 will permit various minor mangrove removal when there are low environmental risks. It also provides a framework for the assessment of more significant proposals.”

A committee made up of Auckland Regional Council councillors Paul Walbran, Dianne Glenn and Christine Rose heard evidence from submitters during three days of hearings in September 2008.

The Auckland Regional Council has accepted the Hearing Committee’s decisions and recommendations.
In response to the submissions and evidence some of the principal changes to the earlier, notified version of Proposed Plan Change 4 are:
• Further recognition of the ecological values of mangroves as well as the issues associated with their rapid colonisation, particularly on biodiversity and recreation and amenity values
• Extending the permitted activity status for mangrove seedling removal to also include Coastal Protection Area 1 areas (mapped areas of highest ecological or geological value and vulnerability) where the values identified are not associated with mangroves
• Further recognition of the impact that mangrove colonisation can have on significant wading bird habitats and providing for the mangrove removal necessary to maintain these habitats
• In the General Management Area, extending the area of mangrove removal that can be undertaken as a permitted activity from 30m2 to 100m2 to enable the operation, maintenance and use of lawful structures, infrastructure and/or the functioning of drainage systems and health and safety
• Providing for 30m2 of mangrove removal in Coastal Protection Area 1 areas as a controlled activity to enable the operation, maintenance and use of lawful structures, infrastructure and/or the functioning of drainage systems.

The decision report and amended Chapter 16 (Plan Change 4) is available online at www.arc.govt.nz/coastalplan . It can also be viewed at Auckland Regional Council, Ground Floor, 21 Pitt St, Auckland during office hours. Copies will be sent to those who made submissions.

Any person who made a submission or further submission has the right to appeal the plan change decisions to the Environment Court. Appeals must be lodged within 30 working days of receipt of the decision report.

Following the resolution of any appeals, the coastal plan change will need to be approved by the Minister of Conservation before it is made operative.

ENDS

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