Operative Waikato Regional Policy Statement (October 2000)

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2  Resource Management Processes

2.2  Integrated Management

2.2.2 Achieving Integrated Management

Principal Reasons for Adopting: Integrated management involves a number of dimensions including considerations of the interconnected nature of resources and ecosystems, physical resources, social, cultural and economic needs, variable time scales and co-ordinated management actions.

The Waikato Region comprises a range of soils, landforms, landscapes, water resources, minerals, microclimates, plant life and animal life. Superimposed on these are various activities and land uses that both affect, and are affected by the natural and physical resources of the Region. Involved in these activities are people representing a variety of cultures, age groups, experiences, interests, goals, beliefs and values. The Region is managed by different agencies operating under different legislation or professional codes, and who may be guided by different goals and objectives.

All these facets of the Region relate to each other and with those of neighbouring regions, and sometimes even with those in distant regions. It is important that management of the Region recognises these relationships and seeks to co-ordinate decision making within and between regions so that any adverse effects of the use, development and protection of natural and physical resources are appropriately managed and sustainable management is achieved.

When managing the use, development and protection of natural and physical resources recognise and provide for:

1. the interconnected nature of all elements of the environment
   
2. the inter-relationships between natural and physical resources
   
3. the potential for adverse environmental effects to occur
   
4. the range of social, cultural and economic values within the Region.

1. Ensure that regional plans and consent decisions recognise and provide for the matters listed in Policy One above.
   
2. Encourage territorial authorities in the Region, when they are preparing district plans and processing resource consents, to give consideration to the matters listed in Policy One above.
   
3. Liaise with resource management agencies and major resource users to advocate consideration of the matters listed in Policy One in their resource management decisions.
   
4. Raise awareness of the matters listed in Policy One through education programmes and the provision of relevant information.

Ensure inter-agency integration and consideration of cross boundary processes in the management of natural and physical resources.

1. Encourage other resource management agencies to make provision, for the significant resource management issues stated in both this document and in any regional plans.
   
2. Encourage, when new significant resource management issues arise, consultation amongst affected resource management agencies with the view to developing appropriate joint actions to address these issues.
   
3. Prepare submissions on documents from other agencies, where there are implications for the resource management responsibilities of the Waikato Regional Council (Environment Waikato) and where there are inconsistencies with the RPS and regional plans.
   
4. Consult with neighbouring regional councils over the preparation of regional plans, regional rules and other methods to ensure a reasonable consistency in the management of natural and physical resources.
   
5. Advocate a collaborative approach to managing consent applications, and establish protocols for the effective operation of joint hearings where the request for resource use/development is of significance to both Environment Waikato and a territorial authority(s).
   
6. Advocate a collaborative approach to managing consent applications where the application for resource use/development crosses regional boundaries and/or has implications for neighbouring authorities.
   
7. Facilitate forums and other means of communication which allow for the sharing of information between resource management agencies and/or the formulation of co-ordinated policy.
   
8. Encourage joint resource management projects with territorial authorities, neighbouring Regional Councils, iwi authorities and other resource management agencies where there are clear benefits to all parties.
   
9. Consider the transfer of powers or the delegations of functions to public authorities where appropriate.

Environment Waikato is charged with promoting the sustainable management of natural and physical resources in the Waikato Region. For sustainable management to be achieved, it is important that the environment is managed in an integrated way. Through its responsibilities, Environment Waikato is in a unique position to be able to appreciate the inter-connected nature of the environment and the interrelationships that occur. Environment Waikato is able to influence the way that resource management occurs in the Region through its policies, plans, resource consents and dissemination of advice and information. It is also in regular contact with a range of public and private resource managers in the Region. Environment Waikato therefore has the ability and responsibility to promote integrated management of the Region. Policy One and the accompanying four implementation methods provide means by which integrated management of natural and physical resources can be achieved.

The reasoning for Policy Two and the accompanying implementation methods is that effective, sustainable resource management requires a close working relationship between all organisations with resource management responsibilities or interests. Some of the organisations Environment Waikato will need to have a close working relationship with include:

1. territorial authorities
   
2. iwi authorities
   
3. neighbouring regional councils
   
4. The Department of Conservation
   
5. Ministry for the Environment
   
6. Regional health authorities
   
7. Other government departments.

In many instances, it is likely that resource management issues will cross the geographic boundaries of different agencies. It is important that a consistent approach is achieved both within the Waikato and between neighbouring regions. The methods chosen provide a variety of mechanisms by which to achieve integrated management and will ensure consistency among resource management agencies in carrying out different functions, powers and duties under the RMA.

Integrated resource management requires all organisations with resource management responsibilities to work together. Thus, there is a need to ensure that effective liaison occurs across boundaries and between different organisations. Environment Waikato should take a leading role in resource management projects on those issues which relate directly to its functions. Where projects do not relate directly to its functions, Environment Waikato should take an advocacy role where it considers it is appropriate. District Councils should inevitably do the same. Where issues of joint management overlap, then it would be expected that affected agencies have equal opportunities for involvement.

Resource management issues that are likely to invoke Policy Two above and the accompanying methods are as follows:

1. Any matter which may impact on the functions and responsibilities of Environment Waikato.
   
2. The actual or potential effects of the use, development or protection of land of regional significance. This includes:
   
   1. land matters that could adversely affect natural and physical resources which are the responsibility of Environment Waikato
      
   2. land matters as outlined in sections 6 and 7 of the RMA (Matters of National Importance and Other Matters) where a regional perspective would be beneficial.
      
3. Consent applications with significant implications for both Environment Waikato and territorial authorities and/or neighbouring regional/territorial authorities, or where resource use, development or protection cannot be considered in isolation to neighbouring regional/territorial authorities.

The reason for Method 9 under Policy Two is that in certain circumstances a power or function of a local authority may be more efficiently undertaken by another public authority and this needs to be provided for. Sections 33 and 34 of the RMA provide for a local authority to transfer powers or delegate functions respectively. A "public authority" is defined under s33 of the RMA.

1. Increased community awareness of the interconnected nature of natural and physical resources.
   
2. Co-ordination and integration of decision making processes relating to the use, development and protection of natural and physical resources.
   
3. All management agencies aware of responsibilities, all aspects of the management of natural and physical resources covered, and no duplication of functions.

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