6.7 Explanations and Principal Reasons

Explanations and Principal Reasons

Indigenous biological diversity
Rare habitats* and threatened habitats* are made up of habitats that are either naturally rare in the Region (that is, there was never a large number of that type of habitat) or have been reduced to a level of 20% or less of their original extent in the Region. At this level they cannot sustain themselves without intervention. Even a small loss of, or small amount of damage to, these habitats may lead to the total loss of this habitat type in the Region.

At-risk habitats* are made up of habitats that have been reduced to a level of less than 50% of their original extent in the Region. These habitats are at risk of falling into the threatened category (described above) in the lifetime of this Plan if something is not done to prevent that habitat loss. At-risk habitats* also include those areas which provide a habitat for a rare or threatened species.

The objectives, policies and methods adopted aim to prevent the further loss of rare habitats* and threatened habitats* and to control activities which may have an adverse effect on the unique characteristics of at-risk habitats*. Also included are objectives, policies and methods to actively manage, improve and protect identified habitats.

Natural features and landscapes
The protection of outstanding natural features and landscapes from inappropriate subdivision, use and development is a matter of national importance. While the regulation of land use with regard to competing pressures for the subdivision, use and development of land that may affect natural features and landscapes is most appropriately dealt with at a Territorial Authority level, it is considered important that this document should continue to provide a list of regionally outstanding natural features and landscapes and their associated characteristics and values. The objectives, policies and methods provide guidance and direction for the protection of these values. For example, the policies require avoidance of significant adverse cumulative effects (ie., cumulative effects that are so adverse that they have the potential to significantly alter or damage the essential characteristics and values of the natural feature or landscape).

In the application of Policy 6-6(a) to the repowering of existing wind farms within their consented site or footprint, the assessment of cumulative landscape and visual effects and their significance should not be limited to the consideration of one factor, such as changes in height. Instead the changes to the existing environment should be considered in their entire context including any benefits from reduced density and a more visually coherent pattern of development with respect to the characteristics and values of the Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes (ONFL). In this context, 'repowering' means the replacement of turbines that have reached the end of their economic life with updated turbine technology to continue to make the best use of the available energy resource.

Natural character
The preservation of the natural character of the coastal environment, wetlands, rivers and lakes and their margins is a matter of national importance. The natural character of the CMA is dealt with in Chapter 8. The approach of the One Plan is to maintain the current degree of natural character of the coastal environment, wetlands, rivers and lakes and their margins and to restore and rehabilitate natural character where appropriate. The objectives, policies and methods adopted in this document aim to achieve this by:

Historic Heritage
The protection of historic heritage from inappropriate subdivision, use and development is a matter of national importance. It is considered important to provide a regional framework for the protection of historic heritage by:

Objective 6-3 and Policies 6-11 and 6-12 and Policy 2-2 provide the regional framework, guidance and direction required to manage historic heritage.