What is a Structure Plan?

A structure plan is a tool available to the Council to manage the environmental effects arising from subdivision and development in the Foothills & Countryside Environments. Structure plans are found in the District Plan and apply to stream-based catchment areas.

Introduction

The Foothills Environment, outlined in the District Plan, forms an ecological and visual buffer between the bush-clad and the urban parts of the City. The Countryside Environment comprises rural land in the Whenuapai and Hobsonville area. The foothills of the Waitakere Ranges include a mixture of vineyards, orchards, pasture and areas of native and exotic bush. The Council's policy is to preserve the foothills, by preventing urban sprawl into this area. 

Currently subdivision in the Foothills and Countryside Environment is limited to a four (4) hectare (ten acre) minimum lot size. However, where a structure plan is in place and particular criteria are met, subdivision below four hectares may be possible.

Each structure plan must be consistent with the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), and the Auckland Regional Policy Statement. The aim of each structure plan is to enable some additional subdivision potential while protecting:

• the character of the area
• the beauty of the landscape
• native bush
• streams and the quality of water they contain
• heritage sites, buildings and trees

and to:

• avoid increasing flooding risk; and
• contain the spread of the urban area within certain boundaries

The Council intends to develop structure plans for each of the stream catchments in the Foothills and Countryside Environments. Priorities and funding for structure plans is decided through the yearly Annual Plan process.

In some cases, structure plans may also be initiated and funded privately. Structure plans are produced using expert assessments from planners, landscape architects, geo-technical engineers, and drainage engineers in consultation with residents, so that the structure plans reflect (where possible) the development aspirations of the community and those others that will be affected by the subdivision and development.

Main Features

Three main features are shown on a structure plan.

Protection Areas

These are areas where there is native bush, unique geological landforms or, buildings or sites of significance to the community. These are protected under the structure plan and no development can take place in these areas.

Enhancement Areas

These are areas where planting is required before any subdivision can occur. Enhancement areas fall into three categories:

• Revegetation
  Where the land is prone to erosion, where screening of development is required or where vegetation will connect existing areas of bush, allowing native wildlife to pass through;
• Restoration
  Degraded bush, or open spaces within bush where planting of native species and weed control is required; and
• Streamside
  Margins of streams (riparian areas). Plants growing here are especially valuable because they reduce erosion and flooding, as well as helping to filter out pollutants and sediments before they reach streams and other waterways. Native bush also makes streams more attractive, provides a habitat for native birds and improves the habitat for aquatic life.

Lot Density

These are numbers or indicative boundaries shown on existing sites to indicate the number of lots into which a site can be subdivided. The density is based on environmental or physical constraints on each site and within the context of the wider catchment. 

So far, a structure plan has been prepared for land identified as Foothills Environment in the Oratia catchment. The Council is currently preparing structure plans for several other catchments including:

• Birdwood (Massey)
• Swanson
• Waiarohia (Whenuapai)

There are also privately initiated structure plans being prepared for the following catchments:

• Pakinui (Massey)
• Riverlea (Whenuapai)
• Totara (Whenuapai)

Related information

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If you have any enquiries regarding structure plans contact us.