Resilience to natural hazards Some district plans include hazard overlays; for example, identifying floodplains is common. These overlays do not tend to change the activity classification of network utility infrastructure, but they can impose additional matters for consideration in consenting decisions. To ensure the infrastructure is resilient to natural hazards and is able to continue operating to provide essential services through an adverse event, it is proposed that for the activities proposed to be permitted under the NESTF, natural hazard zones should also be managed by the district plan. Proposals (indicative requirements only) Expanding conditions Conditions protecting trees and vegetation, historic heritage values, visual Section 6 to include amenity, coastal marine areas and natural hazard zones will apply to all telecommunications facilities activities under the NESTF. outside the road reserve Adding hazard to Conditions managing infrastructure in natural hazard zones in the relevant ‘natural section 6 district plan will prevail over the NESTF where they are more stringent than the NESTF requirements. and benefits Likely effect on cultural or historic Proposed new standards heritage values Potential impact of natural hazards Aerial cabling Aerial cabling in accordance with the Natural hazards not affect aerial proposed new permitted activity standard fibre networks to a greater extent is likely to have a less than minor effect on than they would affect the existing cultural or historic heritage values because aerial telecommunications or it will only be classified as permitted in electricity networks where the fibre areas with existing utilities lines overhead, would be located. and new crossings would not be permitted for lead-ins. Underground cabling Underground cabling in the road reserve Underground utilities infrastructure must comply with the Utilities Access Code may be adversely affected by natural and the HNZPTA to ensure environmental hazard events. However, the need for effects are avoided, remedied or mitigated, utilities infrastructure in inhabited and the legal requirements of the HNZPTA areas is unavoidable. relating to the potential modification or destruction of archaeological sites are complied with. It is not expected that there would be any adverse cultural effects resulting from the distribution of underground utilities in the road reserve, provided all other requirements (outside of RMA requirements) are complied with.
Resilience to natural hazards Some district plans include hazard overlays; for example, identifying floodplains is common. These overlays do not tend to change the activity classification of network utility infrastructure, but they can impose additional matters for consideration in consenting decisions. To ensure the infrastructure is resilient to natural hazards and is able to continue operating to provide essential services through an adverse event, it is proposed that for the activities proposed to be permitted under the NESTF, natural hazard zones should also be managed by the district plan. Proposals (indicative requirements only) Expanding conditions Section 6 to include telecommunications facilities outside the road reserve Conditions protecting trees and vegetation, historic heritage values, visual amenity, coastal marine areas and natural hazard zones will apply to all activities under the NESTF. Adding ‘natural hazard to section 6 Conditions managing infrastructure in natural hazard zones in the relevant district plan will prevail over the NESTF where they are more stringent than the NESTF requirements. and benefits Proposed new standards Likely effect on cultural or historic heritage values Potential impact of natural hazards Aerial cabling Aerial cabling in accordance with the proposed new permitted activity standard is likely to have a less than minor effect on cultural or historic heritage values because it will only be classified as permitted in areas with existing utilities lines overhead, and new crossings would not be permitted for lead-ins. Natural hazards not affect aerial fibre networks to a greater extent than they would affect the existing aerial telecommunications or electricity networks where the fibre would be located. Underground cabling Underground cabling in the road reserve must comply with the Utilities Access Code and the HNZPTA to ensure environmental effects are avoided, remedied or mitigated, and the legal requirements of the HNZPTA relating to the potential modification or destruction of archaeological sites are complied with. It is not expected that there would be any adverse cultural effects resulting from the distribution of underground utilities in the road reserve, provided all other requirements (outside of RMA requirements) are complied with. Underground utilities infrastructure may be adversely affected by natural hazard events. However, the need for utilities infrastructure in inhabited areas is unavoidable.
nestf-discussion-doc-final.DOCX