Issue date
Protecting waterways for Yacht and Powerboat Owners
Yachting New Zealand is working increasingly to ensure freedom of access to the water for all members, yachties and powerboat owners alike. Below is an update on four cases that YNZ have been involved with on your behalf in the past year, and you can go online our website to see the actual submissions sent
Issue 1: Plan Change 4 - Northland
Plan Change 4 to the Regional Coastal Plan for Northland sets out the new way aquaculture will be managed in Northland. It includes policies and rules for:
- managing existing aquaculture,
- directing how and where new aquaculture is located
A lot of progress has been made in this case over 2012/13. The issues have been divided in to two topics; Topic 1 deals with the “No-Go” areas, these are where aquaculture will be prohibited and the related policy, Topic 2 deals with the rest of the policy. This essentially will confirm where aquaculture cannot take place.
- YNZ are seeking key areas such as Bream Bay, the various harbours including Bay of Islands and other areas of significance for cruising and safety are preserved.
- Evidence has been exchanged and an Environment Court hearing took place in March for Topic 1.
- YNZ’s proposed “No-Go” areas are largely been uncontested by all parties.
The following are expert witnesses for YNZ: Paul Thomas (Planner), David Thatcher (Deputy Harbourmaster, Auckland Council), Ray Haslar, Darren Crawford, David Hope-Lewis, Max Nelson. We are now waiting for the Judge’s decision.
This case is particularly important as if we can rule out key areas at the Regional Plan level then it will mean clubs and boaties won’t have to deal with individual applications. This will also set a precedent for other regions in NZ looking at how to provide for aquaculture development in their area.
Issue 2: Westpac Mussel Distributors Ltd – Stephenson Island (Whangaroa)
This application is for a large mussel farm on the Western side of Stephenson Island. YNZ’s concerns are its effect on navigation and anchorage, both for recreation and refuge.
- YNZ appeared at the hearings held on the 18th of December in front of a panel of independent commissioners.
- Consent has since been granted for the farm; however this decision has been appealed by YNZ and other parties.
The report from commissioners recognised there would be effects on the outstanding natural character of nearby Cone Island, on the natural character of the margin of Stephenson Island, on small boat anchoring and recreational and Maori customary fishing. However, the tipping point for them was the economic benefit the farm would bring to the region.
The commissioners granted Westpac Mussels the consents needed for the proposed farm, but for a reduced 94.05ha area, roughly 30ha smaller than had been sought.
YNZ have appealed the decision. This case will go in to a holding pattern long enough for the outcome of Plan Change 4 to have more weight, which would seriously hinder the chances of the resource consent being granted.
Issue 3: Whaingaroa Fisheries Company Ltd. – Whangaroa Harbour
This application is for a number of farms (fin fish and shell fish) inside the harbour totalling an area of a little of 24ha.
This farm is everything YNZ are opposed to, it essentially closes off a whole bay, renders a number of anchorages nearly inaccessible and is a major navigational hazard.
YNZ have made a submission. The NRC has since requested the applicant provide more information.
This is a reactivation of an old application from 1996. We suspect that the timing is purely to have a go at getting the farm through before Plan Change 4 comes in and the applicant will have no shot at all.
In both this case and the previous there is a large amount of local opposition.
Issue 4: New Zealand King Salmon - Marlborough
The Board of Enquiry have made a decision in this case, the board has allowed the Plan Change resource consent applications for four of the nine sites applied for, those sites being Papatua, Ngamahau, Waitata, and Richmond. The Plan Change consent and applications for resource consent have been declined for all other sites.
Overall a good outcome, two of the three sites YNZ opposed have been declined. The two declined were on the northern point where Tory Channel meets the Queen Charlotte Sound. The site that YNZ opposed which has been granted is on the right hand side of Tory Channel as you make your way towards Picton.
The findings of the Board with regard to navigational issues and their importance will come in useful for Plan Change 4 and other matters we get involved in.
