Wellington landowners are using native bush to circumvent rules designed to protect natural biodiversity.
The Wellington City Council will soon include new rules regarding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs). This will mean that Wellingtonians who have threatened or rare native ecosystems on their properties will be unable to clear it or develop it.
In 1991, the Resource Management Act introduced significant natural areas. Councils were charged with protecting and identifying areas that have significant indigenous biodiversity.
The new district plan will take effect in July. Residents will need to apply to have the plan removed or altered. SNA classificationThey can make changes to their land by building a home or pulling out a bush.
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KEVIN STENT/Stuff
Brent Slater, Kaiwharawhara resident, and property developer, has been told that he can’t construct on a section regenerating forest on his property. This is due to new Significant Natural Areas (SNA) designations that will be in effect later this year.
Brent Slater has a 4000-square metre section in Kaiwharawhara with harbour views. There is also an area of regenerating native forest that will be protected as an SNA.
Slater called it theft-by-stealth. Plans to build another house on the million dollar site are being thwarted by the restrictions.
Although the creation of SNAs is a great idea that would expand Wellington’s town belt for future generations, it should not be done at the expense or benefit of a few.
Meanwhile, neighbors were evading these restrictions by removing any vegetation before the protection could apply. Slater stated that four of them received chainsaws for Christmas.
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A snapshot of the map of the council, which is part the public-facing information campaign Backyard Tonga shows the extent of the areas that will be classified as SNAs throughout Wellington.
Barbara McKenzie (candidate for the mayor of Wellington) said that people were sorry to remove native biodiversity from their property, but felt they had to do it.
People are in a quandary, she said. They want the option [to build later]. They might have a child who can build it, or they may want to build a granny apartment in ten years.
Stuff I have seen emails between council staffers and residents about removing native plants.
KEVIN STENT/Stuff
Brent Slaters’ neighbors have cut down trees to protect their property.
Liam Hodgetts is the chief planning officer of Council. He said there were no legal consequences for landowners who removed vegetation before the district plan was finalised later this calendar year.
Officers never recommended or implied that vegetation be removed. However, it is not illegal at this moment to remove it.
Hodgetts stated that community engagement on SNAs began in 2019. This was to allow for plenty of time one-on-one with affected landowners and allow them to challenge ecology assessments.
KEVIN STENT/Stuff
The area of regenerating forest in front of the house was intended for a new house with an enviable view. However, it won’t be possible to proceed if there are restrictions by the SNA.
We took this intensive approach to engagement as we knew there was a risk that people might try to remove SNAs before it was legal. We have not seen anyone rush to get rid of vegetation.
After reviewing the submissions to the district plan, the council was working on amendments to rules to allow for more flexibility in certain activities within an SNA.
Amelia Geary, Forest & Bird spokesperson said that many important ecosystems were almost exclusively restricted to private land. Landowners as well as councils should work together in order to protect areas where threatened or rare species are still found. [which]They have been taken care of by both current and past landowners. That is why they are still around.
Habitat loss is a major threat to New Zealand’s wildlife. It is important that we take care of the important areas we have left, regardless of whether they are on private or public land.
