(Section 12 of the RPS)

A principal purpose of the RPS is to provide policies and methods to achieve integrated management of the Region's natural and physical resources.

Integrated resource management means consideration of the environment as a whole and recognition that changes, or the effects of human activities, in one area or on one resource, can affect other parts of a complex and interconnected system. In order to achieve this, it is essential that the policies, plans and actions of all the authorities involved in resource management (government agencies, regional and district councils and iwi) and those of the community, are co-ordinated and implemented.

Section 62 of the RMA requires that the RPS identify the processes to be used to deal with issues which cross local authority boundaries, between territorial authorities or between regions.

Anticipated Outcomes

Not stated for this section. This section contains policy related to resource management procedures and processes rather than policy relating to the use, development and protection of resources and therefore does not have anticipated environmental outcomes.

Policy Mix

The objective for the integrated resource management section is the integrated and co-ordinated management of natural and physical resources, and associated decision making processes that enable their protection, use and development at both the regional and district level.

The policy approach for the education and research on effects of resource use and their inter-relationships (Policy 12.4 (a)) is to promote research into and increased understanding of, the inter-relationships and the effects of human activities.

The policy approach for the consideration of effects which cross resource boundaries (Policy 12.4 (b)) is to consider the effects of use and development of one resource on other resources, during the preparation and administration of plans and when considering resource consent applications.

The approach for dealing with cross boundary issues (Policy 12.4 (c)) includes a variety of formal and informal processes. This ensures a degree of flexibility is available to implement the policy direction of keeping consistent with national and regional policy statements and regional and district plans.

This section also includes a policy providing for the transfer and delegation of functions as appropriate, and a policy to avoid duplication and inconsistencies in the consent requirements of councils.

The integrated resource management section contains 16 individual methods of implementation that flow from the policy direction discussed above.

What has worked well in this section?

The RPS has been effective in providing for the integrated management of the natural and physical resources of Northland. The Region has three regional planning documents and each district council has prepared a district plan. Management of the coast and particularly the arbitrary boundary of the coastal marine area has had significant attention as well as more fluid resources such as air quality and water quality.

Environmental education programmes are working well. The informal process for sharing subdivision and land use applications between the three territorial local authorities (Far North District Council, Whangarei District Council and Kaipara District Council) and the NRC is a positive example of integrated management. The avoidance of duplication in resource consent requirements has been done well.

The NRC has been actively involved in the development of district plans. Transfer of powers agreements have been developed and are operating effectively between the NRC and district councils.

What has not worked in this section?

Overall the RPS suffers from a lack of knowledge of its existence, and the provisions contained within it. A number of sections of the RPS, including the integrated management section, relied on the approach being developed through district and regional plans and this was done to varying degrees of success. The RPS also became somewhat secondary to the preparation of regional and district plans and was left on the shelf to some degree. Additionally a majority of the implementation of the RPS was rules based and this didn't help raise the profile of the RPS.

The inter-relationship between the RPS and the regional plans and the Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) is an area that has been recognised for review in the 2nd Generation RPS. This is an area where we have learnt a significant amount since the RPS was drafted and therefore could be enhanced much further.

Cumulative effects are difficult to manage particularly in terms of understanding the cumulative effects of a single application for resource consent. The cumulative effects provisions within this section need to be given more strength and they need to be actively implemented. The joint processing of resource consents does not consistently occur when consents are needed from both the NRC and a district council. However this is generally due to a lack of consistent implementation of the joint processing agreement than an issue with the approach itself.

There has been limited research commissioned on effects of resource use, particularly in regard to cumulative effects and effects of one resource on another resource.

General comments on this section:

There is still significant room for improvement in the integration between agencies. Education and research is very important. There has not been a database developed to compile and make easily available any research work that has been undertaken – it has been recommended that a research ‘forum' should be established to coordinate the commissioning of research and ensure that all research is easily accessible.

The NRC has investigated the creation of a single planning document (the one plan approach) and is currently investigating the development of a suite of user friendly ‘smart' technologies that would electronically deliver a one-plan document. The outcome of the single planning framework investigation was that the preferred option is to develop a single one-plan for the entire region, incorporating the RPS, regional and district plans. However, it has been acknowledged that this is not likely to be feasible given the current political climate and the NRC has elected to prepare a RPS and combine all three of its regional plans into a single regional plan.

Is this section Efficient and Effective?

On face value it appears that this section is reasonably effective at identifying areas where integrated management is required, and identifying the high level approach/agreements for integrated management. However, particularly given our greater level of knowledge and understanding of our environment, it is considered that much more detail is required to integrate decision making, research and overall environmental management of natural and physical resources between agencies.

The status of the RPS as an integration document has been increased due to the ‘give effect to' requirement (s.75 (3)(c) of the RMA). The new emphasis provides an opportunity for a more collaborative approach to integrated management amongst the four councils. It is anticipated that this RPS will not have such a focus on the necessary contents of regional and district plans and will be a much clearer document that provides regional direction and is recognised in its own right.

Emerging Issues for this section?

As integrated management lies at the heart of this document, all local authorities in Northland will need to work closely together to ensure that the next RPS sustainably manage Northland's unique environment and provides a true holistic integrated management approach to the broader interpretation of the environment.

The integration of planning documents with other statutory documents (e.g. Regional Land Transport Strategy) needs to be considered. The project to consider a consolidated planning framework for Northland identified that a single planning framework was the best option. However this required political buy-in across the region. The NRC decided to take a staged approach and develop the RPS as a document for the region with an integrated regional plan as the first step.

The ramifications of an Auckland ‘super-city' need to be explored with regards to cross-boundary issues, particularly for the Kaipara Harbour and the anticipated development pressures in the southern border of the Kaipara district.

There is a growing intention at central government level to integrate the planning and implementation of ‘health focused' infrastructure at the territorial level as the biggest gains in public health are through the planning and development (infrastructure) responsibilities of district councils.

Conclusions

One of the purposes of regional policy statements is to provide policies and methods to achieve integrated management of the natural and physical resources of the region. The RPS has been partly effective in achieving integrated management but the 2nd Generation RPS needs to do more (specific suggested actions can be found in each section of this review). The next RPS will need to state the processes to be used to deal with cross boundary issues and will need to treat the environment in a holistic manner. If all local authorities in Northland work together towards achieving integrated management then it can become a reality.