New rules to tighten lake developments

By REBECCA DEVINE in Rotorua
Rotorua's eastern lakes areas will be protected from future over-development under new regulations which have been seven years in the making.
From early next month the rules for development around many of the district's lakes will change in a bid to protect the character of the areas and stop buildings going up in an ad-hoc fashion.
The new rules, which follow years of planning and many submissions from the public, aim to prevent eyesore buildings and may also help improve the quality of the lakes.
It has come at a cost - the Rotorua District Council spent between $200,000 and $400,000 over the past four years getting the new regulations in place.
The area has been given special status as a Lakes "A" zone, a change from the previous Rural "A" classification. This means the council will now look at the wider affects of developments when considering resource consents. In the past the council has just looked at the development itself.
There will be stricter regulations around the colour, height and design of buildings as well as a regulation to make sure they are nestled into the landscape.
Development in the Lake Tarawera area will be restricted to identified areas of hill slopes immediately behind the existing settlement, will need to follow strict revegetation rules and will have to be largely covered in vegetation more than a metre high before any construction work can start.
At Okareka no new settlements will be allowed outside the existing area until the Lake Okareka Action Plan is in place. The council has been working to many of the regulations when considering new developments over the past year or so but, from December, the changes will become fully operative as part of the district plan.
Work on establishing the special status for the area began in 1998 after the Environment Court ruled the area was one of national importance and needed stronger planning provisions. The court told the council it was too relaxed on development and needed to be stricter.
The zone covers more than 34,000ha - about 13 per cent of the district - and includes lakes Okataina, Okareka, Tikitapu (Blue Lake), Rotokakahi (Green Lake), Tarawera, Rotomahana and Okaro.
The council's planning services manager Tracey May said the overall objective of the new zone was to preserve and improve the natural character of the area.
It aims to protect areas of indigenous vegetation and protect the iconic landscape.
She said the new zone changed the regime and the way the council looked at applications.
WHAT IT MEANS:
* Low profile buildings.
* Stricter regulations around the colour of buildings.
* Developments away from the skyline, instead nestled into bush or farmland.
* Aims to avoid prominent basements.
* Maximum height of 6m above ground level.