Pataua

Summary

This Structure Plan is intended as a concept for the local Pataua area, integrating the protection, use and development of land and resources and setting out how to implement the Coastal Management Strategy vision and mission statements at a local level. In other words, it is a broad physical plan identifying areas for growth, protection, infrastructure and other community requirements over the next 20 years.  The Structure Plan was adopted by Council in February 2009.

Key elements

The Pataua Structure Plan identifies outcomes for living, working, playing and protecting the area.  The key elements of the Structure Plan are as follows:

Clustered residential development and settlement at Pataua

Providing for some expansion of the ‘Living 1’ Environment in areas of existing settlement but only with provision of appropriate utility services (e.g. particularly wastewater and a community scheme was proposed, but also adequate stormwater collection and flood protection). Providing for ‘larger lot’ residential development in surrounding areas, subject to stormwater and flood management. Provide Coastal Countryside for rural surrounds with focus on riparian management for water quality of rivers. Maintaining the rural surrounds has been identified by the community as an important element of the ‘living’ environment, particularly for the special character or amenity of settlement areas.

Development that provides for protection of vegetation, landscape values and water quality of rivers

Providing for focused Living 3 expansion around the settlement areas subject to vegetation and landscape protection and enhancement; and retaining and expanding the Coastal Countryside Environments surrounding the settlement, particularly where there are identified vegetation and landscape values. Establishing bush protection in subdivision, use and development, recognising the contribution that this bush has to the natural character and sense of place of the area. Providing planting guides to encourage use of appropriate species in revegetation, including issues of eco-sourcing. Reserve expansion and viewpoint protection, including setting aside coastal margins and areas of valued bush as part of the reserve network.

Promoting the special lifestyle and sense of place of the coastal settlement

Using topography and natural features to guide boundaries of development areas.  ‘Low impact’ design for stormwater (e.g. avoiding curb / channel and maintaining ‘grass swale’ road verges and more ‘informal development’ style for public infrastructure). Development controls to protect the foreshore from run-off and pollution. Promoting design guidelines for structures and buildings. While the existing development of Pataua includes a fairly eclectic composite of housing development, it is considered that the scale and character of this development, particularly around the bay at Pataua South and the mouth of the river at Pataua North is distinctive and contributes to the special lifestyle and character of the area.

A special lifestyle encouraging pedestrian friendly settlement

Preserve and develop walkway linkages and walking tracks through the Structure Plan area and beyond, including linkages between residential areas. Low impact pedestrian accessways in development. For example, design and implementation of pedestrian accessways on one side of road integrating such development with the ‘low impact stormwater designs’ above. Pedestrian/cycle access only maintained between the settlements on the north and south of Pataua River.

Promote eco-tourism and coastal recreation at Pataua

Providing a local community centre with future development at Pataua North. Providing small scale local commercial activity with future development at Pataua South in the area of Hutchinson Road to support local community. Maintaining the campground facilities at Pataua South.

Economic rural activities in surrounding Countryside and Coastal Countryside

Providing appropriate environment for ‘rural’ economic activities in surrounding hills. Encouraging riparian management and protection of water quality. Provide education and public awareness information on the nature of farming operations to improve understanding by ‘residential’ community of the needs and impacts of rural activities.

Recognise the importance of the natural character and quality of the coastal marine area for tourism and recreation

Identification of viewpoints and protection through reserve acquisition or other controls. Promote the development of a heritage area and walkway reserves around Pataua with improved signage and information on cultural sites and features.

Recognise the importance of access to marine based recreation to the area

Provide for boat ramp development and trailer-boating at Pataua North and South and identify required landside facilities, including foreshore protection at Pataua South.  Provide for expansion and development of community reserve centre at Pataua North – around the existing sports centre.

Recognise and maintain the recreation value of the coastal marine area including estuary

Stormwater and catchment management planning for water quality.  Discourage Aquaculture Management Areas (AMAs)in Pataua.  Encourage active recreation with speed restrictions in the Pataua River mouth / bay. Advocate community leadership and assist other agencies (e.g. Northland Regional Council) in management of fish and shellfish resources where appropriate.

A network of walkways, unformed tracks, recreation access points and linkages through the area and the coastline west and east

Improved pedestrian access along the coastline of Pataua, including formalisation (physical and potentially legal) of this accessway. Expand reserve and open space network along foreshore. Development of the Pataua headland as a heritage reserve area.

Recognising the vulnerability of the beach and dunes to recreation use and access

Building board-walk accessways to beaches and across the dunes as development, particularly at Pataua North, increases recreation access demand to the beach.  Encourage planting and revegetation of esplanade reserve areas (also providing potential shade for recreation areas).  Encourage planting and revegetation of privately owned coastal margins.

Protection of bush and important habitat areas

Encouraging pet control and pet management. Encouraging bush protection on private land. Prioritise weed and pest management along Council Roads and reserves (e.g. Pataua North and Pataua South Roads).

Managing land use and infrastructure to enhance coastal water quality

Reserve expansion along waterways and coastal margins.  Encouraging riparian management on private land.  Discourage development of aquaculture management areas. Comprehensive stormwater management planning & low impact catchment planning for stormwater (e.g. grass swales and planting of the shoreline). Reticulated wastewater as a pre-requisite to expanding the Living Environments.

Protection of lifestyle and special character values of Pataua North and South

Establishing a strong ‘urban fence’ or limit for residential expansion areas. Design guides for residential development.

The important values of the area to tangata whenua recognised and provided for

Increase consultation with tangata whenua and encourage establishment of guidelines for management of natural areas.  Encourage hapu management of Maori Land.  Provide community education and information on tangata whenua values and issues.

Potential reinstatement of Pataua Island

Technical investigation of reinstatement of Pataua Island as an island through removal of the existing culvert at ‘campsite’.

Follow the links below to view the complete document and accompanying map. 

Pataua Structure Plan [691kb] Full version.
Structure Plan map [1283kb]