48Development within Zone 7 (d)

48 Development within Zone 7 (d)

48 Development within Zone 7 (d)

(1) Consent must not be granted to the carrying out of development on land within Zone 7 (d) for the purpose of ecotourism facilities unless the consent authority is satisfied that—

(a) no part of the development will visually dominate the natural landscape when viewed from roads, public places and residential areas, and

(b) no part of the development will result in the destruction of features of natural or cultural heritage significance, and

(c) the development complies with the following requirements—

(i) any development site must be no larger than 4 hectares, with at least 25% of the site’s open space remaining forested and the site must be separated from other sites by at least 50 metres of forested open space,

(ii) all buildings must be sited below ridgelines and hillcrests and at a downslope distance sufficient to ensure that rooftops do not intrude on the skyline,

(iii) all buildings must be single storey structures,

(iv) all buildings must be screened from outside view by on-site plantings and plant species should be the same, or closely related to, those found naturally in the vicinity of the site.

(2) Consent must not be granted to development for the purpose of ecotourism facilities on land within Zone 7 (d) unless the consent authority has considered—

(a) a visual analysis of the proposed development from major viewpoints in the locality, and

(b) a detailed landscape planting plan identifying proposed plant species and their projected height, and site preparation methods proposed to be implemented in conjunction with the development.

(3) Development for the purpose of caravan parks is prohibited on land within Zone 7 (d).