March 2024 Newsletter

Looking to the horizon

The smell of chocolate and hot cross buns is in the air and the team are looking forward to a well deserved Easter break after what has been a very busy start to the year.

This month in our project focus, Caitlin our Landscape Architect, discusses how landscape and visual assessments can assist the decision-making process for resource consent applications, ensuring the management and improvement of landscape values for any proposed development of a site.

Staff profile: Elena Emmerich - CAD Designer

After moving to New Zealand from Germany over ten years ago, Elena found herself in Magical Mangawhai.

Elena has worked for Dream Planning and now Horizon as a Cad Designer. Elena is heavily involved in our subdivision and landscape design preparing our beautiful plans and 3d models.

Project Focus: Baldrock Road

The proposed subdivision created seven lots, under the Environmental Benefit Provision of the Kaipara District Plan. Given the location and contour of the site, a Landscape and Visual Assessment was necessary to determine the effects of the proposed subdivision, and assess the consistency of the proposal with the surrounding development pattern.

The purpose of the assessment was to determine the appropriateness of the subdivision proposal in its context by:

• Describing and analysing the site in its contextual landscape
• Assessing and evaluating the effects of the proposed subdivision on visual amenity
• Addressing relevant policy matters

A Landscape and Visual Assessment is often required for Resource Consent Applications in Kaipara District, and often necessary for subdivisions and development proposed in the Rural Zone.

This assessment is prepared and submitted with the subdivision or land use Resource Consent Application to assist the decision-making process, and to provide confidence that the subdivision or development will maintain the landscape values, character, amenity of the landscape, manage adverse visual effects, and meet the objectives and policies of the District Plan.

As a summary the assessment included suggesting mitigation measures – this included planting throughout the site, particularly along roadside boundaries to screen and soften future buildings, and provide vegetated backdrops.

Caitlin Wallace -Landscape Architect