Part 1 - Palmerston North City Council

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The Attractive Community
‐ To maintain and enhance the visual appeal of the City.
Some people will view rock linings and groynes and intrusive structures with limited visual appeal.
However, in certain circumstances, they are necessary structures required to control the effects of the river
on the surrounding environments. In this instance the rock lining will prevent the undermining of the cliff
face and provide a solid foundation to the re‐contoured cliff face as proposed by PMB Landco Ltd. When
complete, the cliff face will still be a recognisable terrace rising from the river and will be enhanced through
landscape plantings.
‐ To manage the adverse effects of activities on the environment.
The actual and potential effects of the proposal are addressed in Section 6 above. A construction
methodology has been developed (attached as Appendix E) which will enable construction works within the
river to occur whilst minimising effects on that environment.
7.3.2 Residential Zone Objectives and Policies
The residential section of the District Plan contains a number of objectives and policies that are specific to
the residential area. It is considered that objectives 1, 2, 3 and 4 and their associated policies have some
relevance to the proposal along with the additional policies under Rule 10.8.3.3.
Objective 1 and Policies
This objective seeks to promote the efficient use of urban infrastructure and other physical resources.
Policy 1.4 requires the avoidance of development of areas subject to a natural hazard and to ensure that
development is guided to less hazardous areas. The intention of the proposal is to reduce and ultimately
avoid the effects of a natural hazard on residentially zoned land and existing flood protection infrastructure
on each side of the river. The works will ensure that the site is less hazardous, will enable the re‐contouring
of the cliff face thereby allowing for the development of the residential land above the cliff thus promoting
the efficient use of the City’s physical resources.
Objective 2 and Policies
Objective 2 seeks to recognise the range of activities which are complementary to and compatible with
residential development. The policies require that adverse effects of non‐residential activities on
residential activities are controlled and that the scale and character of non‐residential activities within the
zone are controlled.
In this instance only a small portion of the proposed works are within the residential zone and these are at
the base of the cliff. The MWRC works are not likely to be observed from future residential dwellings on
this land or from existing residential dwellings on the right river bank, the nearest of these being at the end
of Albert Street, some 500 metres away. The construction type effects on residential amenity are discussed
in Section 6.1 above.
Objective 3 and Policies
This objective seeks to secure and maintain a high standard of amenity within the Residential Zone. The
policies set standards on which the site specific rules of the plan are based. As mentioned above, the
subject site is located at the base of the cliff where it is on residentially zone land and will not be viewed
from any future properties on this land. It is located some 500 metres from the closest residential dwellings
on the right bank of the river. The finished works will not affect the amenity of any residential properties or
the residential zone.
Objective 4 and Policies
Objective 4 seeks to reinforce the predominant character of the residential zone. Policy 4.2 requires
avoidance of activities which do not maintain, or create adverse effects on, the overall amenity and
ambience of the residential environment. As stated above the finished works will not disturb or create
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