Media Release: Waikato District Council, 30 September 2015
Waikato District Council and Waikato Regional Council are working together to identify significant natural areas (SNAs) across Waikato district so they can work with land owners to protect SNAs on their property.
Tony Whittaker, General Manager Strategy and Support explains “Waikato district is host to hundreds of SNAs that contain threatened species or rare types of habitat and are important to our district and our heritage.”
“We have identified SNAs on private land using aerial photography, ecological reports and vegetation maps so we can look at how we can protect them. We’re considering a range of methods such as incentives for people who protect their SNA but the public will have an opportunity to have their say on this later next year.”
Landowners who have an SNA identified on their property have been sent a letter and map showing them where the SNA is on their property, and a factsheet to help understand what it means for them..
Mr Whittaker says the next step is to check that the information is accurate.
“We need to know whether the information is correct or not. Landowners need to tell us whether the area has been correctly identified, whether the description is accurate and if there are any other significant areas which haven’t been included.”
Waikato District Council is hosting six open days to chat to land owners about the project and their SNAs.
Open days are being held at:
| Raglan Council Office | 13 and 14 October 2015 | 10am-7pm |
| Ngaruawahia Council Office | 20 & 22 October 2015 | 10am-7pm |
| Tuakau Council Office | 27 & 28 October 2015 | 10am-7pm |
Phone 0800 492 452 or email districtplan@waidc.govt.nz to book a 15 minute slot to discuss your SNAs.
To find out more, visit www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/districtplanreview