Operative Waikato Regional Policy Statement (October 2000)

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3  Significant Resource Management Issues, Objectives, Policies and Methods

3.4  Water

3.4.9 Public Access to Water Bodies

Principal Reasons for Adopting: The provision of public access to the margins of lakes, rivers and wetlands is a matter of considerable public interest and is of national importance. River, lake and wetland areas, in particular the amenity and recreational values that they provide, are often enjoyed by the public. It is permissible that public access be restricted for public safety reasons, defence purposes, security and matters of national importance, including ecological reasons.

Maintain and where practicable enhance public access to and along lakes and rivers except in circumstances where safety, defence, or security purposes require limits on public access or where sensitive areas require protection.

1. Through resource management plans, consultation and advocacy with territorial authorities, identify where public access to, along and across water bodies should be restricted.
   
2. Ensure public access is provided to and along all council owned and managed riparian lands except in circumstances where safety, defence, or security purposes require limits or where sensitive areas require protection.
   
3. Through resource consents issued, ensure provision for public access via esplanade areas.
   
4. Encourage the acquisition and management of land in conjunction with territorial authorities and DoC for the purpose of establishing esplanade areas for public access, recreational use and conservation values.
   
5. Provide financial assistance, at an appropriate level, to territorial authorities for the acquisition of esplanade areas where regionally significant values or resources are involved or where the Waikato Regional Council (Environment Waikato) feels assistance is necessary to achieve the objectives and policies of this document.

The provision of access to, along and across the beds of margins of lakes, rivers and wetlands is of importance in managing the Region’s water resource. Enhanced access to active and passive recreational areas, and places of cultural and historical interest is important. It is intended to promote public access to and along water bodies, however, it is recognised that there are instances when restriction of public access is necessary.

The purpose of esplanade areas is multi-faceted, in that they can be set aside for a number of purposes. These purposes are identified in s229 of the RMA and include the establishment of esplanade areas for recreation, public access, and conservation (including land instability).

Regional and district planning is concerned with the integrated management and control of the effects of the use, development and the protection of land and associated resources. In carrying out their responsibilities, and to achieve integrated management of resources, councils need to have specific regard to water quality and quantity related matters and frame objectives, policies, rules and decisions accordingly.

1. Public access maintained and enhanced to and along water bodies and their margins.
   
2. Natural, cultural, and landscape features adjacent to water bodies protected.
   
3. Water quality and aquatic ecosystems maintained and enhanced.

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