Updated 2 December 2017
This Chapter addresses the protection and management of natural features and landscapes within the City.
The City has a number of outstanding natural features and landscapes and this Chapter identifies these and sets out provisions which ensure their ongoing protection. Appendix 6A: Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes identifies the factors, values, and associations that make the area an outstanding natural feature and landscape. Protection of key public views of these features and landscapes is also recognised.
Other areas within the City have important landscape values which, although not outstanding, are important to the community and contribute to the amenity of Tauranga City. It is recognised that these landscapes need to be maintained and enhanced. These landscapes are often modified, or degraded, but still these landscapes are considered important and have a role, either as landscape edges, smaller distinctive features or part of a wider landscape or feature. These areas are identified as important amenity landscapes and their relevant factors, values and associations are outlined in Appendix 6B: Important Amenity Landscapes.
The natural character of our coastal environment, wetlands, rivers and streams also contributes to the City’s character. The Plan recognises the importance of preserving the natural character values that exist in these different environments to ensure the City’s character is maintained.
The Plan provides for the characteristics and elements of the City’s landscape character values to be maintained and enhanced, while recognising that landscape character values will change over time as the City grows and new urban growth areas are developed.
It is recognised that all outstanding natural features and landscapes, and important amenity landscapes also have recreational and use values and it is anticipated that specific recreational activities will occur within these areas, provided that adverse effects are mitigated.
This Chapter also provides for the protection of notable trees throughout the City. The objectives, policies and rules in relation to notable trees are outlined in Section 6B - Purpose of the Notable Tree and Significant Groups of Trees Provisions.
Note: The characteristics and elements of Tauranga’s urban and rural areas have been described in the Boffa Miskell (2011) Tauranga City Landscape Study prepared for the Tauranga City Council.