SNA are an important part of our District’s ecological landscape and are critical for preventing the extinction of rare species and loss of ecosystems. Protecting SNA’s is important in ensuring the ongoing viability of biodiversity within the District, or at a regional or national level. Due to this there are a number of legislative requirements for Council regarding SNAs:

• Council is required to recognise and provide for their protection under the Resource Management Act (Section 6(c)).
• Environment Canterbury’s Regional Policy Statement (2013) has criteria for what constitutes a SNA and requires that District Plans protect SNAs. The District Plan must give effect to this requirement.
• The National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (2023) requires protection of SNAs by avoiding or managing adverse effects from new subdivision, use and development.

Council is also required to control the effects of land use and development to maintain indigenous biodiversity (Section 31 of the Resource Management Act).

To protect their important biodiversity values, the Partially Operative District Plan contains rules about how you can use the part of your land containing the SNA.

Under the Partially Operative District Plan (Ecosystems and Indigenous Biodiversity Chapter):

• SNA’s are either those mapped on the planning map, or other areas that would meet one of the criterion for a SNA (criteria in ECO-APP1).
• Rules:
  • Restrict clearance of indigenous vegetation within SNAs, with allowances for certain activities (refer to rule ECO-R1).
  • Preclude the planting of exotic vegetation, plantation forestry, woodlots, or shelterbelts within SNAs.
  • Limit the planting of indigenous vegetation to vegetation ecologically appropriate for a SNA.
  • Preclude on-farm mobile or fixed irrigation equipment within 50m from a SNA.
  • There are also rules that provide for on-site development right incentives. In exchange for the legal and physical protection and restoration of a SNA, the following development rights can be given:
    • the right to subdivide off a 1-2ha bonus lot (with allowance for a residential unit and minor residential unit) within the General Rural Zone or Rural Lifestyle Zone; or
    • the right to build an additional residential unit within the General Rural Zone or Rural Lifestyle Zone.
    • Find out more about these on-site development right incentives.

Activities that will not comply with these rules require a resource consent to proceed. In cases of non-compliant work, Council can seek restoration of the SNA at the landowner’s expense.

Landowners with SNAs can apply for the Council’s Biodiversity Contestable Fund, for funding to assist with activities that will support the protection and restoration of SNAs.

A Rates Grant is also available for landowners of SNAs – for more information refer to the SNA Rates Grant Factsheet.

Council has a range of support available for landowners of SNAs:

• Council provides landowners of SNAs with rates relief, via a rates grant, as an acknowledgement of their contribution to protecting and maintaining the District’s indigenous biodiversity. Find out more about this SNA rates grant here.
• Landowners with SNAs mapped in the Partially Operative District Plan can apply for the Council’s Biodiversity Contestable Fund for funding to assist with activities that will support their SNA’s protection and restoration.

Council’s Ecologists can help with free advice to support management and enhancement recommendations, and help with funding applications.

• The Partially Operative District Plan provides for on-site development right incentives within the General Rural Zone or Rural Lifestyle Zone of either the right to subdivide off a 1-2ha bonus lot (with allowance for a residential unit and minor residential unit) or the right to build an additional residential unit, in exchange for the protection and restoration of a SNA. Find out more about these on-site development right incentives here.