We have now closed public feedback on the Four Possible Futures for the Coromandel Peninsula. We received more than 2000 feedback forms and comments. We are now in the process of analysing all the feedback.
For more information visit www.coroblueprint.govt.nz or call 07-868 0200.
Q) What is the Coromandel Peninsula Blueprint?
A) For many years we have been hearing concerns about the way the Coromandel Peninsula - particularly its coastline and natural landscape - is being shaped by development. The Coromandel Peninsula Blueprint Project brings together communities and authorities to build a 50-year integrated plan for protecting and enhancing the special character of the place now and for the future. To do this, we need to decide how the land and coastal environment will be used. The district Blueprint work is focussed on this task and involves setting an overall plan for managing future change to our land and coast. This district work will then lead on to local plans aimed at directing future use and development of the land and coast at the community level. The Blueprint will help ensure you get consistent decisions and plans from your local and regional councils.
Q) How is this project important to me?
A) You may not see an immediate change as a result of work on the Coromandel Peninsula Blueprint but it will have a bearing on what happens in future years to the land and coast and for generations to come.
Q) What about the work already done by communities for their Community Plans?
A) The Community Plans have helped us understand your local community’s aspirations. The Coromandel Peninsula Blueprint will bring all that local work together to help us determine whether we can realistically meet these aspirations, which means exploring the unexpected consequences that some of these may have on other communities in the district.
Q) How does this Blueprint work relate to the council’s Landscape Assessment Survey?
A) Through the recent Landscape Assessment Survey and other research we know what broad elements of the landscape are most important to our residents and ratepayers and this work will feed into the Blueprint Project. However we need to explore other areas including the effect of development on the coastal edge backdrops to settlements, urban sprawl, elements of urban design, marinas and many more aspects of growth. This involves local, district and regional planning for both land and coast – and such an integrated approach has never been done for the Coromandel Peninsula.
Q) Who is involved in the Blueprint?
A) The Coromandel Peninsula Blueprint is being led by the Thames-Coromandel District Council, Environment Waikato, Hauraki Whanui and the Department of Conservation, but it affects everyone who cares about the future of the Coromandel Peninsula or has an influence on it. We’ll be making sure everybody has an opportunity to get involved.
Q) Don’t we have a Long-term Council Community Plan or LTCCP for long term planning?
A) The LTCCP looks 10 years ahead and sets priorities for funding council activities and services. The Coromandel Peninsula Blueprint looks beyond this timeframe and is focused on managing land and coastal issues that the peninsula is likely to face as the area develops over the next 50 years.
Q) What will happen if we don’t do this?
A) The Coromandel Peninsula Blueprint is a chance to integrate a review of the plans and rules that your local council is responsible for (District Plan, Community Plans, Long-term Council Community Plans), with the planning that the regional council Environment Waikato is responsible for (Coastal Plan, Regional Policy Statement) and which Central Government is responsible for, particularly the Department of Conservation’s Conservation Management Strategy. We are also aware of our obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and will be working closely with Hauraki Whanui. It’s a chance to get everyone to look at the future together.
Q) Where is the Blueprint at now?
A) At the moment we are analysing public feedback on four possible futures. Feedback closed on May 30, 2008. We have pulled together community profiles, population statistics, growth projections and information such as housing, open space, heritage and the economy. We have considered what community plans have told us about each community’s aspirations and how that fits into a district-level picture. At the same time we have researched the effect that current rules governing land and coast are having on the future of our environment. For more information visit www.coroblueprint.govt.nz
Q) What is the project’s timeframe?
A) Consultation on the possible futures closed on May 30, 2008. From there we will develop a ‘preferred future scenario’ which defines what we would like the Peninsula to look like in 50 years time. After further community consultation on that, the project partners will agree on a final Coromandel Peninsula Blueprint in 2009, before looking at local Blueprint plans for your communities.
Q) How do I get involved?
A) You can go on our mailing list right now (e-mail blueprint@tcdc.govt.nz with your e-mail and/or mailing details – include ‘Blueprint’ in the subject line) and we will put you on our Blueprint mailing list. The website www.coroblueprint.govt.nz is an important source of information that will be updated regularly.
