Overview

Amenity Values are natural or physical qualities and characteristics of an area that contribute to people’s appreciation of its pleasantness, and cultural and recreational values.

Having a safe and healthy environment for living, working and recreation, is important for Matamata-Piako residents. This involves maintaining generous access to daylight, sunlight and private open space, especially in urban areas.Amenity values can differ in rural areas to those in urban areas, as people in rural areas commonly both live and work on the land, and can be involved in activities that generate noise, odour, dust and other effects.

Pressures

The amenity and heritage values of Matamata, Morrinsville and Te Aroha could be adversely affected by unsuitable development. Amenity in rural areas can also be compromised by rural activities that generate noise, odour, dust and other effects. In general, disturbance to amenity values as a result of legitimate farming activities is acceptable, however in urban areas and near large-scale rural industry it is expected that any significant negative effects on amenity values will be avoided, corrected or minimised.

Our Situation

The number of resource consent applications to breach Council's development standards remained relatively consistent between 2000/01 and 2005/06, however, this figure increased significantly in the 2006/07, and 2007/08 years. This increase is likely to be related to the increase in houses being built. The 2008/09 year saw a slight decrease on the 2006/07 and 2007/08 figures. The majority of development standards that were allowed to be breached were for consents wanting to encroach into boundary requirements.