Operative Waikato Regional Policy Statement (October 2000)
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3 Significant Resource Management Issues, Objectives, Policies and Methods
3.3 Land and Soil
3.3.2 Central Volcanic Region1
The central volcanic area extends as far south as the top of Mount Ruapehu and includes all of the pumice lands around Taupo, Kaingaroa and Mamaku. The area is of high landscape value and contains a number of prominent geothermal features including the Ketetahi, Tokaanu, Mokai and Wairakei geothermal areas.
Land uses include extensive stock grazing, dairying, plantation and conservation forestry. Land use on the mainly pumice soils requires careful management to prevent soil erosion, which could affect water quality or change the beds of lakes (notably Lake Taupo) and rivers in the area2. As there is very little clay in the soil parent materials to provide cohesiveness, the soils are extremely fragile and prone to severe gully, sheet, rill, streambank and wind erosion. Any break in ground cover can lead to major impacts on the land and downstream siltation.
Map 3: Topographical Areas in the Waikato Region
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Footnotes
- Works Consultancy Services Ltd, Taupo Basin; An Analysis of Resource Management Agency Roles, June 1991.
- The last of five major soil conservation schemes were completed 1993.