Rotorua Caldera Rim Report - Rotorua District Council

Earthworks
Avoiding earthworks on hillsides in the Sensitive Rural Areas is difficult. However earthworks can significantly
alter the natural patterns and processes which occur on a landscape. Poorly designed earthworks can result in
a scarring effect on a landscape. Working with the natural patterns and process in the early design stages is
crucial to minimising the extent of earthworks required.
Approach
Identify natural flat areas and patterns to minimise earthworks throughout the site. Identify prominent
features to avoid within the site and natural processes, including waterways to protect.
Avoid:
• Extensive and invasive earthworks that will permanently scar the landscape.
• Creating vertical faces and slopes that are incongruent with the surrounding landform gradients.
• Even and linear earth shaping patterns.
• Large cut batters that are difficult to maintain or return to productive land use.
• Any earthworks along the ridgeline of the Sensitive Rural Areas and prominent features within.
• Creating accessways and roads that excessively cut across a hillside or into a slope.
DESIGN GUIDELINE
By:
• Locating house sites and access roads that require minimal earthworks.
• Using naturally flat areas to locate house sites.
• Using the natural landform to locate accessways that require minimal earthworks and retaining.
• Using cut and fill material is reshaped to ‘marry into’ the surrounding landform.
• Rehabilitate cut batters / embankments with vegetation or grass.
• Minimising retaining structures and visually obscuring them from view.
• Minimise vertical cut faces to no greater than 1.5m in height.
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