Operative Waikato Regional Policy Statement (October 2000)

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3  Significant Resource Management Issues, Objectives, Policies and Methods

3.13  Structures (Infrastructure)

3.13.1 Overview

Patterns of human settlement are dominated by a concentration of urban development in Hamilton City and surrounding areas, including Huntly, Ngaruawahia, Morrinsville, Cambridge, and Te Awamutu.

There are a number of other towns throughout the Waikato that act as important service centres for their surrounding communities:

1. Te Kuiti and Otorohanga serve the King Country area, while the southern parts of the Region are serviced by Putaruru, Tokoroa, Taupo and Turangi.
   
2. The main centres in the east of the Region include Matamata, Te Aroha, Paeroa, Waihi and Thames, while the Coromandel Peninsula is characterised by a number of coastal settlements.

The concentration of population around Hamilton and the surrounding areas, combined with the sparse distribution in other parts of the Region, has implications for access, the utilisation and management of natural and physical resources, and the delivery of services. For example, some parts of the Region, particularly coastal areas, attract large numbers of holiday makers and visitors at certain times of the year. This can significantly impact on local sewerage systems, water quality, transport infrastructure and pollution levels.

The Region has a range of network utilities that provide important regional functions. Network utility operators¹ rely on structural networks to provide a necessary service including emergency services to the people of the Region, and to the business community. For example the Region’s flood protection and land drainage schemes (refer section 3.8.4) are important for the protection of individual and community assets, productive capability, community safety and other utility networks. The hydro-electric dams on the Waikato River are regionally significant, as collectively they form an integral part of the Region’s flood management infrastructure. It is important to ensure that subdivision, use and development does not significantly compromise the effectiveness of regionally significant network utilities.

The Region’s land transport network is an important part of the economy and contributes significantly to social needs, access and communication. Due to the Region’s strategic location, a number of major road and rail routes pass through the Waikato, linking Auckland and Northland with Regions to the east and south. The extensive roading network maintains access to widely scattered rural communities. The use and development of natural and physical resources should have regard to the potential for adverse effects on the essential regional roading network, in particular on major arterial routes. A new land use activity may compromise the long term operation of existing regional infrastructure. For example, new activities generating substantial traffic and having access from major arterial roads, may have significant adverse effects on infrastructure

The use of transport can also have adverse effects on the environment (e.g. stormwater runoff, vehicle exhaust emissions and noise). These issues are managed through other sections of the RPS concerning the specific resources. The Regional Land Transport Strategy also manages these issues in part for roading.

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Footnotes

1. As defined in section 166 RMA.