Operative Waikato Regional Policy Statement (October 2000)

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3  Significant Resource Management Issues, Objectives, Policies and Methods

3.5  Coast

3.5.7 Public Access

Principal Reasons for Adopting: People's enjoyment of the coast depends on access, both to and along the coast. Appropriate subdivision design and layout and the provision of access roads/walkways would increase the opportunity for public use of coastal areas. In some cases private property rights extend down to the high tide line, making public access unavailable. Access in such cases would need to be negotiated with landowners.

Public access to and along the coastal marine area will be maintained or enhanced except in circumstances where safety, defence or security purposes require limits on public access, sensitive areas require protection, or the integrity of sites important to tangata whenua must be maintained.

1. Identify, in conjunction with iwi, communities and other agencies, those areas of the coast that may need to have public access limited to protect those values that are vulnerable to disturbance.
   
2. Advocate to territorial authorities to provide for public access, particularly in frequently used areas.
   
3. Through regional and district plans and resource consents, ensure that public access is not unnecessarily restricted by use and development.
   
4. Through the regional coastal plan and resource consents, advocate the setting aside of esplanade reserves on reclamations in the coastal marine area.
   
5. Advocate to territorial authorities the taking of esplanade areas on subdivision for purposes of public access, recreational use, and conservation.

Although the maintenance and enhancement of public access to and along the coastal marine area is a matter of national importance, there are situations where such access will cause adverse effects. Public access, therefore, may need to be restricted in some circumstances in order to comply with other provisions of the RMA and the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement. Consultation with other agencies and communities will be necessary in order to identify those areas of the coast that may need to be protected, or where access may need to be restricted for other reasons.

Integrated management in relation to public access will be necessary as access to the coast generally occurs on the landward side of mean high water spring. That is, there will be both territorial authority and regional council input into the provision of public access. For example, the Waikato Regional Council (Environment Waikato) will advocate to territorial authorities for the provision of esplanade reserves and walkways in heavily used areas of the coast. These can both provide access to the coast and to public coastal lands, and assist in channelling pedestrian traffic away from more sensitive areas.

It is considered that esplanade reserves should be created where appropriate, and other proposals for reserves supported. Esplanade areas have a number of purposes including recreation, public access and conservation (including water quality and the mitigation of natural hazards). These purposes are outlined in s229 of the RMA.

1. Net increase in the area and quality of esplanade areas along the coast.
   
2. Protection of areas of the coast vulnerable to disturbance.
   
3. Coastal marine areas accessible to the public unless inappropriate.

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