4 NOVEMBER 2010 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 148 3721

Policy 27 Strategies for protecting significant existing development from coastal hazard risk

(1) In areas of significant existing development likely to be affected by coastal hazards, the range of options for reducing coastal hazard risk that should be assessed includes:

(a) promoting and identifying long-term sustainable risk reduction approaches including the relocation or removal of existing development or structures at risk;

(b) identifying the consequences of potential strategic options relative to the option of “do-nothing”;

(c) recognising that hard protection structures may be the only practical means to protect existing infrastructure of national or regional importance, to sustain the potential of built physical resources to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations;

(d) recognising and considering the environmental and social costs of permitting hard protection structures to protect private property; and

(e) identifying and planning for transition mechanisms and timeframes for moving to more sustainable approaches.

(2) In evaluating options under (1):

(a) focus on approaches to risk management that reduce the need for hard protection structures and similar engineering interventions;

(b) take into account the nature of the coastal hazard risk and how it might change over at least a 100-year timeframe, including the expected effects of climate change; and

(c) evaluate the likely costs and benefits of any proposed coastal hazard risk reduction options.

(3) Where hard protection structures are considered to be necessary, ensure that the form and location of any structures are designed to minimise adverse effects on the coastal environment.

(4) Hard protection structures, where considered necessary to protect private assets, should not be located on public land if there is no significant public or environmental benefit in doing so.

Policy 28 Monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the NZCPS

(1) To monitor and review the effectiveness of the NZCPS in achieving the purpose of the Act, the Minister of Conservation should:

(a) in collaboration with local authorities collect data for, and, as far as practicable, incorporate district and regional monitoring information into a nationally consistent monitoring and reporting programme;

(b) undertake other information gathering or monitoring that assists in providing a national perspective on coastal resource management trends, emerging issues and outcomes;

(c) within six years of its gazettal, assess the effect of the NZCPS on regional policy statements, plans, and resource consents, and other decision-making; and

(d) publish a report and conclusions on matters (a) to (c) above.

Policy 29 Restricted Coastal Activities

(1) The Minister of Conservation does not require any activity to be specified as a restricted coastal activity in a regional coastal plan.

(2) Local authorities are directed under sections 55 and 57 of the Act to amend documents as necessary to give effect to this policy as soon as practicable, without using the process in Schedule 1 of the Act, with the effect that:

(a) any activity specified as a discretionary activity and a restricted coastal activity becomes a discretionary activity only;

(b) any activity specified as a non-complying activity and a restricted coastal activity becomes a non-complying activity only.

(3) Any application for a coastal permit for an activity specified as a restricted coastal activity that has been publicly notified before the date the amendments in clause (2) are made shall continue to be treated as an application for a restricted coastal activity for the purposes of section 117 of the Act.

(4) Any other application for an activity specified as a restricted coastal activity made before the date of the amendments in clause (2), shall be considered as a discretionary or non-complying activity in accordance with the regional coastal plan or proposed regional coastal plan’s classification and section 117 of the Act does not apply.

SCHEDULE 1
Surf Breaks of National Significance

Northland
Peaks – Shipwreck Bay
Peaks – Super tubes – Mukie 2 – Mukie 1

Waikato
Manu Bay – Raglan
Whale Bay – Raglan
Indicators – Raglan

Taranaki
Waiwhakaiho
Stent Road – Backdoor Stent – Farmhouse Stent