Operative Waikato Regional Policy Statement (October 2000)

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3  Significant Resource Management Issues, Objectives, Policies and Methods

3.13  Structures (Infrastructure)

3.13.2 Infrastructure

Principal Reasons for Adopting: The continued operation of regionally significant infrastructure, including network utilities, is a regionally significant issue, which can be undermined by significant adverse effects.

Avoidance of significant adverse effects (including cumulative effects) on the safe and efficient operation of regionally significant infrastructure. Where significant adverse effects on regionally significant infrastructure cannot be avoided they shall be remedied or mitigated.

1. Through district or regional plans, resource consents and the Regional Land Transport Strategy, in consultation with territorial authorities, network operators, resource users and other interested parties, identify and enable the maintenance of regionally significant infrastructure.
   
2. Through the Regional Land Transport Strategy, enable the safe and efficient operation of the land transport system to be maintained.

Under the RMA, regional councils and territorial authorities have primary responsibility for promoting the sustainable management of natural and physical resources. In relation to settlements and structures the Waikato Regional Council (Environment Waikato) can develop objectives and policies for the integrated management of natural and physical resources and the effects of the use, development and protection of land which are of regional significance. The role of the territorial authorities with respect to structures is more comprehensive. For example, in addition to developing objectives and policies, territorial authorities can control the effects of the use, development and protection of land and control the subdivision of land.

Policy One recognises that when managing the use and development of natural and physical resources, it is important that appropriate regard is given to the potential for significant adverse effects on the operation of regionally significant infrastructure and that such effects are avoided, remedied or mitigated. The interdependent nature of the built environment means that proposed activities may also adversely affect many other activities as well as regionally significant infrastructure. Developments may have regionally significant impacts on regionally significant infrastructure.

The primary means of implementing this policy is through the preparation of district plans, the Regional Land Transport Strategy, and the control of subdivision, use and development through resource consents under the RMA. Environment Waikato can ensure through the policy statement that the importance of regionally significant infrastructure is recognised and can provide mechanisms under s65(3) of the RMA to address conflicts between the use, development, or protection of natural and physical resources. The consent process also allows consideration of the effects of resource use and development on infrastructure. Territorial authorities have the ability to enable the maintenance of existing infrastructure through their responsibilities related to land use regulation.

The sustainable management of infrastructure is the joint responsibility of all people who live, work or travel in the Region. It is important that there is effective communication between territorial authorities, other network operators, resource users and the general public, so that a co-ordinated approach to management is made possible. Infrastructure represents a major investment upon which society depends for its efficient functioning. For this reason, major resource managers, both public and private, should recognise the importance of existing regionally significant infrastructure in their plans and when making resource management decisions.

1. Continued operation of regionally significant infrastructure maintained.
   
2. Effective management of potential resource management conflicts, so as to avoid, remedy or mitigate significant adverse effects on infrastructure.

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