Preparation of an Application

Introduction	How do I prepare an AEE?
Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE)	Written approval of affected persons
Matters to be included in an AEE	Requests to give your approval
Issues to be considered	'Making an application' home page

Matters to be included in an AEE

The Fourth Schedule of the Resource Management Act 1991 gives guidance on the scope and issues which need to be addressed in an AEE, including:

all the actual and potential effects on the environment arising from a proposal
the methods for avoiding, remedying or mitigating the adverse effects
any alternative locations or methods of undertaking the activity where the activity will result in significant adverse effects
information about monitoring the effects of the proposed activity, where the scale and significance require this, and who will do the monitoring
an outline of any consultation undertaken and the responses received
the implications and alternatives where hazardous substances and contaminants will be used in the activity.

Other matters which should be considered include:

any effect on those in the neighbourhood or wider community (e.g. socio-economic, cultural, health, safety, wind tunnel, shading, etc)
any physical effect on the locality (e.g. landscape and visual, loss of housing)
any effect on ecosystems (e.g. effects of hazardous substances on plants, animals, water courses, habitats) that have aesthetic, recreational, scientific, historical, spiritual or cultural or other special value for present or future generations
any effect on natural and physical resources resulting from any discharge of noise, dust, odour, fumes, hazardous substances or other contaminants into the environment
positive effects

The District Plan identifies effects of activities that Council considers as significant Resource Management Issues for the City. The following is a summary of these effects. Please refer to the District Plan for a full list of effects. Copies of the District Plan are available for viewing at the Council and at all Waitakere City Council Libraries.

Issues to be considered - Effects on:

Water (Quality and Quantity)
General	degradation of the health of aquatic ecosystems degradation of waterways as a food source.
Specific	run off of soils into waterways contamination from discharges increased water temperature from loss of riparian vegetation reduction of riparian habitat from loss of vegetation reduction of in-stream flows increase of aquatic weeds in stream systems alteration of water courses and the interface of land and water piping and culverting of water courses run-off of contaminants from road surfaces and, in particular, contaminants from vehicle use

Native Vegetation
General	reduction of the City's naturally occurring biodiversity.
Specific	clearance of native vegetation, in particular, in outstanding and significant native vegetation areas coverage and disturbance of tree root systems exposure of native vegetation to edge effects drainage and coverage of wetlands introduction of environmentally damaging plants

Native Fauna Habitat
General	degradation of aquatic habitat reductions in the total area of fauna habitat, especially forest habitat and wetlands fragmentation of fauna habitat, particularly in the lowland area degradation of coastal habitat and mangrove areas increased vulnerability of wildlife species, in particular birds
Specific	alteration of native vegetation and destruction of wetlands grazing and trampling of forest and wetlands presence of environmentally damaging plants eating of native vegetation by possums predation of native wildlife by introduced mammals alteration of natural water levels within wetlands

Land (including Soil)
General	degradation of soil quality a general loss of topsoil inefficient take up and coverage of land.
Specific	removal and erosion of topsoil's by stormwater and earthworks coverage by buildings and impermeable surfaces compaction by stock leaching, spillage and discharge of contaminants

Air Quality/Atmospheric Quality
General	reduction of immediate air quality damage to the atmosphere and its life-supporting functions reduction in the City's biomass and therefore the ability through natural processes to offset impacts on our quality
Specific	the presence of particulate matter and other pollutants in the air

Ecosystem Stability
General	instability of native ecosystems instability of exotic ecosystems impeding of natural regeneration processes
Specific	reduction of extent, representativeness and variety of native vegetation and fauna species decline in the quality of air, soils and water which undermines stability vulnerability of native species to environmentally damaging plants and predators isolation of native vegetation and fauna habitat

Outstanding Natural Features (Landforms, Geological Sites and Soils)
General	modification to and detraction from the form and geological integrity of the City's Outstanding Natural Features accelerated erosion and compaction of Outstanding Natural Features and, in particular, the dunes of the West Coast
Specific	clearance of vegetation removal of rock and soil as a result of mining and earthworks compaction and modification of form and natural processes associated with natural features by stock, vehicles and people

Natural Character of the Coast and Margins of Lakes, Rivers and Other Structures
General	loss of and damage to the structure and form of landforms, reduced water quality and vegetation cover in coastal and riparian areas alteration to the way in which natural processes act on coastal and riparian areas, such that the natural character is degraded
Specific	modification of the interface between land and water alteration of bush and vegetation adjacent to water areas discharges of contaminants into waterways run-off of soils into waterways alteration of water courses impeding of sand-dune accretions

The Spiritual Dimension (Mauri)
General	degradation of the mauri of parts of the City, in particular waterways degradation of some areas to the point that the effects on mauri have become dangerous and indiscriminate in their impacts
Specific	absence of appropriate protocols undermining of mana of iwi/hapu kaitiaki responsibilities degradation of water, soils, air quality, extent, and variety of native vegetation and fauna habitat

Outstanding Landscapes
General	degradation of the landscape qualities of the outstanding Waitakere Ranges and coastal landscapes of the City
Specific	a visual deterioration of the natural landscapes through the introduction of inappropriately located and designed buildings, structures and urban style roads undermining of the wilderness character of the landscapes from the increased presence of visitors, residents and traffic encroachment of coastal village settlements into the surrounding outstanding landscape domination of landscape elements through the placement of structures on sensitive ridges and headlands/cliffs/scarps, and other natural landscape elements modification of landscape elements - alteration of landform, vegetation cover and the land/water interface loss of characteristic levels of quiet dominance of natural landscape character by inappropriate colour of structures

Amenity Values I (Other Than Outstanding Landscapes)
General	modification to or domination of landscape elements and landscape character to the degree that they no longer contribute to or are a factor in the amenity values of an area
Specific	Foothills	modifications to streams/watercourses removal of bush for housing and other buildings encroachment on ridgelines loss of older pasture, orcharding and vineyard areas spreading of buildings in lower catchments down into the valleys provision of urban style roading increased noise increasing dominance of the built over natural/cultivated features loss of visual variety increased population levels to the extent that the original community feeling is lost
	Countryside	loss of open rolling landscape with intensification of settlement loss of visual effect of rural pastoral landscapes possible further pressure on streams removal of remnant native bush increasing dominance of buildings in the previously pastoral landscape reduction in the non-urban feeling through the introduction of retail and commercial activities normally found in the urban area
	Urban (residential)	reductions of planting on private sections with infill housing reduction in amount of space around buildings with more intensive settlement possible dominance of surrounding sites by larger buildings feeling of openness and greenness undermined loss of relative quiet possible undermining of characteristic residential character to the degree that it is no longer the defining feature overwhelming of any natural features
	Urban (towncentres)	possible loss of pedestrian access with increasing use of and focus on car travel potential loss of quiet spaces overwhelming of any remaining natural features by larger buildings etc. loss of community focus and feeling through dispersal of retail activities away from town centres undermining of character derived from dominant retail activities
	Urban (work)	loss of remaining natural features and amenities
	Coastal (Scott Rd)	loss of remaining natural features loss of coastal character

Amenity Values II (Local Area & Neighbourhood)
General	a loss of a combination of elements and characteristics, a sense of place and belonging such that they no longer contribute to or are a factor in the amenity values of the neighbourhood
Specific	General	change in the combinations of landscape elements to the extent that the uniqueness of the area is lost change in dominant activities (e.g. orchards) to a point that essential character is lost
	General (streetscapes)	change in streetscape (planting and openness) loss of physical overlooking of streets (urban) loss of local landmarks in road reserves loss of connections between community/public spaces and private areas changes in building style and relationship with street reduction of connection between street and homes/buildings (private and public space) loss of uniqueness of streets in different parts of the City
	Bush - Living	encroachment of buildings on ridgeline continuing removal of bush introduction of exotic vegetation provision of urban style roading dominance of building character over natural and loss of balance between the two
	Coastal Villages	loss of original low-density, low rise buildings and settlement loss of dominance of residential activities growth population to the point that the Village feel is lost loss of dominance of natural character (Kareare, Huia, Little Huia, Bethells/Te Henga, Parau) increased noise loss of bach feel
	Foothills Catchments	loss of unique elements in each catchment e.g. orchards, vineyards
	Villages (general)	reduction of planting on private sections reduction in amount of open space damage of surrounding sites by larger sections reduction on the feeling of openness and greenness increased noise loss of dominantly residential character
	Herald Island	loss of key views to the North Shore and mainland coastline loss of low-scale/low density feel dominance by large buildings loss of village feel reduction in the sense of difference
	Hobsonville / Whenuapai Airbase	loss of original planned features
	Whenuapai	loss of "edge village" feel from intensification
	Waitakere Township	dominance of residential buildings loss of "village" feel increased noise loss of openness loss of focus around transport links
	Older suburbs of New Lynn, Green Bay and Glen Eden	reduction in sections size to 450m² lack of greenness and openness
	Kelston, Glendene, Te Atatu South and Te Atatu Peninsula	inappropriate section size (relative to proposed buildings) lack of greenness and openness
	Fringe suburbs of Massey, Ranui and West Harbour	inappropriate placement of buildings loss of greenness and openness

Amenity Values III (Wellbeing)
General	modification to and undermining of those physical and amenity characteristics which contribute to the health and safety of residents and workers
Specific	increases in ambient noise levels and single event noise occurrences overshadowing and loss of adequate daylight to residential and non-residential buildings and, sunlight to residential buildings loss of privacy odour, dust and vibration nuisance reduction in the darkness of the night sky, to a level that disrupts sleep increased vulnerability to or fear of attack, violence or other crime in public spaces increased risk of unintentional injury constraints on the ability of people to move easily within their neighbourhood reductions in the availability of an appropriate amount of accessible open or outdoor space to residents overcrowded, inappropriately designed living areas impediments to access to the coast and waterways

Heritage
General	the loss/destruction of items, buildings, trees and objects which are part of the City's heritage modifications to structures and sites to a degree that the integrity of their heritage value is lost
Specific	disturbance to and removal of buildings, structures, trees, materials as associated with waahi tapu and archaeological sites trampling of sites by stock use of materials, joinery, ornamentation on heritage buildings and structures in a way that is in conflict with key elements that contribute to the heritage value of the structure additions to and modifications to the basic, scale, form and layout and roofline of any structure in a way that is in conflict with the key elements that contribute to the heritage values of the building removal of buildings, structures, trees and materials associated with heritage items the placing of new structures, objects or plenty of vegetation on or over any waahi tapu or other heritage site in a way that undermines the spiritual and heritage significance of that site the undermining of the integrity of any heritage site through the construction of inappropriate structures on adjoining sites loss and degradation of natural resources modification to key landscape elements