Pressures

The primary activity affecting the natural environment is changes in land use such as land drainage, bush clearing, subdivision and development. These activities place pressure on the natural environment by destroying habitat, isolating and fragmenting land, introducing predators and plant and animal pests, using and harvesting species and grazing other species. (1)

As the Matamata–Piako District experiences further residential growth and industrial development the risks of the natural environment being modified by these new activities will increase. Unlimited public access may severely affect the quality of natural resources in the District and measures may need to be taken to protect these public assets from the effect of surrounding development. Sensitive natural areas such as the Kopuatai Peat Dome are under continued pressure from adjacent land drainage activities for agriculture and are being monitored closely.

The number of resource consents granted, for excavation or activity within the kaitiaki (conservation) zone, reflects the pressure of associated development. These consents need to be

carefully monitored and used as a means to control potential adverse effects of development.

Concern has been raised over the scale of native vegetation removal in the District, the harvesting of forestry in the kaitiaki zone, and the number and distribution of plant and animal pests.

Key Issues

• The threat of future activities in areas adjacent to land containing outstanding natural features or resources, modifying, destroying, or compromising these qualities
• The protection of outstanding natural resources in private ownership
• The threat of uncontrolled or unlimited public access to significant features where intrinsic values of particularly sensitive ecosystems may be compromised
• The significant loss of indigenous vegetation, habitats of indigenous fauna, and indigenous species
• Development pressures resulting in the loss of many urban trees with historical and visual significance
• The loss of trees near waterways which may adversely affect water and soil conservation in the District
• Inappropriate development adversely affecting wetlands, rivers, and their margins

State

Landscape

The natural features in the Matamata–Piako District can be broadly divided into eight distinct landscape types.

• Intensively farmed plains
• Kopuatai Domed Peat Swamp
• Western foothills
• Hinuera Valley along Piarere Road
• Western ranges
• Waihou River terraces
• Kaimai foothills
• Kaimai Ranges