Coastal Plan
The Regional Coastal Plan sets out how Environment Southland will carry out its resource management responsibilities in the Coastal Marine Area (CMA).
The values of Southland's coast are described and issues of management identified. Fundamental principles in the management of the CMA are set out and then sections of the plan deal with specific matters, including estuaries, coastal water, air, occupation, the seabed and foreshore, structures in the coast, coastal processes and protection works, cruise ships and other ships in internal waters, recreational activities, marine farming, surface water activities, financial contributions and bonds to be made.
River mouth agreement – 2020 update
The CMA landward boundary determines where the jurisdiction of the Regional Coastal Plan ends and the proposed Southland Water and Land Plan starts. Environment Southland, the Department of Conservation, Southland District Council, and Invercargill City Council are all parties to an update of the Southland Region Agreement for the Position of River Mouths which is dated 23 December 2020 and has full legal effect. The original agreement in the Coastal Plan is superseded and will be removed when the Coastal Plan is updated.
The Regional Coastal Plan for Southland became fully operative on the 16 March 2013.
Download the Regional Coastal Plan
Download Section 16 of Regional Coastal Plan (tracked change version)
Download Section 16 of Regional Coastal Plan (clean version)
Note: We're currently in the process of a coastal plan change which encompasses Section 16 Surface water activities on the internal waters of Fiordland from Yates Point to Puysegur Point. The original plan, Section 16 (tracked change version) and Section 16 (clean version) can be found in the links above.
Information relating to the Plan Change 5 can be accessed
here.
Read the Southland Region Agreement for Position of River Mouths
Note: if higher resolution maps are required, you can request these by sending an email to service@es.govt.nz.
Coastal Plan review
The operative Coastal Plan needs updating. It was originally notified in 1997 and is out-of-step with current legislation and policy, as well as suffering from a number of drafting issues common to first generation regional plans.
The review of the Coastal Plan is being undertaken in three stages.
Stage one - setting the scene
Staged One is completed. It consisted of the development of the Strategic Direction for the Review of the Regional Coastal Plan for Southland (February 2019), and an assessment of the Effectiveness and Efficiency of the Regional Coastal Plan for Southland (June 2019).
Stage two - pre-notification policy development
Stage two began in June 2019. Fourteen discussion papers have been prepared for consideration by Council and Te Ao Marama Inc on the following coastal topics:
- Occupation and public access
- Air quality
- Historic heritage
- Resource use
- Infrastructure/structures
- Surface water activities
- Natural character, features and landscapes
- Water quality
- Ecosystems and biodiversity
- Biosecurity
- Tangata Whenua
- Marine aquaculture
- Coastal hazards
- Miscellaneous provisions
These discussion papers will provide information and analysis to assist Council and Te Ao Mārama Inc, in consultation with organisations with statutory responsibilities for the coastal environment, to set resource management goals and policy for the coastal marine area. From this, provisions for a new Coastal Plan will be drafted and considered by Council and Te Ao Mārama Inc.
Stage three - formal consultation process
Stage three of the review of the Coastal Plan is the formal consultation process under Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act. The steps in this process are:
- Notification;
- Submissions;
- Further submissions;
- Hearing;
- Decisions;
- Appeals.
Stage three will progress once provision drafting has been completed.
For any further information, or if you would like to be included on our Coastal Plan review stakeholder list, please email service@es.govt.nz.
National Environmental Standards for Marine Aquaculture
The National Environmental Standards for Marine Aquaculture come into effect on 1 December 2020. The regulations apply to replacement consents for existing marine farms and prevail over the relevant rules in the Regional Coastal Plan for Southland. Please refer to the Ministry for Primary Industries website for further information: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/fishing-aquaculture/aquaculture/national-environmental-standards-for-marine-aquaculture/
