Coastal Settlements and Rural Townships

Our coastal environment is special and has different land and resource use issues to other parts of the district. By addressing the coastal environment within our draft District Plan, we can protect its natural character areas, manage coastal settlement sizes and protect its high natural character areas and landscapes.

Central Hawke’s Bay is home to diverse communities with different needs – so we have recognised this within the draft District Plan by treating our rural townships and coastal settlements differently.

 The Coastal Policy Statement requires that we identify and protect coastal areas, because they are fragile in ways that inland areas are not. We also have responsibilities to consider development in coastal areas in relation to natural hazards that occur in these environments.

By identifying and protecting the coastal environment in our draft District Plan, we are ensuring that we protect the natural character areas of the coastal environment also protecting coastal landscapes.

New provisions in the draft District Plan provide for commercial, retail and industrial activities that are appropriate to the scale and character of the coastal and rural settlements.These new provisions also aim to protect the unique character and heritage features of our rural townships, such as Ongaonga and Otane.