The Rural 3 Zone is an area of coastal land that is intended to be kept rural while also allowing places for people to live.

Due to a wide range of factors, much of the Rural 3 Zone is being developed into lifestyle blocks, whereas the original intention was for development to occur in clusters and for the surrounding land to remain as much larger rural blocks that would retain a rural character and productivity values.

The map below illustrates the extent of the Rural 3 Zone (shown in yellow) in the Coastal Tasman Area.

Did you know?

  • The Coastal Tasman Area contains land of low productivity, and land of moderate to high productivity. Yet, it is not as productive as locations such as the Waimea or Motueka plains.
  • Slowing down development in the Rural 3 zone would allow for the electrification of New Zealand’s vehicle fleet. Currently, more rural houses = more kilometres travelled = more carbon emissions.

  • The current style of subdivisions creates a low number of dwellings for the land area used. In other words, it is an inefficient use of land, with lots of land being taken up but providing not very many homes.
  • New houses are resulting in poor transport outcomes, and high carbon emissions from vehicles.
  • The Coastal Tasman Area is a resilient area (with minimal hazards) for future development. Ongoing subdivision will use up this land resource.
  • Higher standards of infrastructure are sought by new residents, and in widely spread locations. For the Council this is very expensive and an inefficient use of resources.
  • Some streams are degraded. There are both adverse and positive biodiversity effects from subdivisions

We have two main options for how to address the Rural 3 Zone. Option 1 is to continue with the current approach but make some changes. These changes would be:

  • Provide better information and clearer policy to provide for more Rural 3 development, or
  • We can change some or all of the area to a Rural Residential Zone.

This option would continue, and probably accelerate, the current type of subdivision that is happening. Option 1 will deliver some houses in the short term.

Option 2 is to take a much longer-term view. The Future Development Strategy 2022 – 2052 has not identified housing and infrastructure growth in the Coastal Tasman Area over the next 30 years. However, this area could provide resilient housing opportunities over the longer term (50 – 100+ years) as part of adapting to future climate change. Option 2 involves:

  • Removing the Rural 3 Zone and replacing it with a standard rural zone.
  • Establishing policies that identifies the current Coastal Tasman Area for long-term future urban development.
  • In the long-term, establishing villages or a town in good locations by appropriately rezoning land, and providing wastewater and water servicing.

Option 2 will deliver many more houses, and more complete and resilient communities in the long term. Option 2 reserves a long-term option for when our coastal towns must retreat.