Evaluating Wairarapa?s landscapes ? Wairarapa?s varied and dramatic scenery will be the focus of a landscape assessment project jointly run by Greater Wellington and the three Wairarapa district councils. ? In early 2010, the four councils will be seeking views from tangata whenua, farming and horticulture interests, environmental groups and the wider public. ? Project spokesman Greater Wellington policy advisor Scott Ihaka says people have strong feelings about Wairarapa?s landscapes. ? ?Locals and visitors alike enjoy the mountains, the plains, the coast and the rugged eastern hill country of the Wairarapa. There are some spectacular natural features and great examples of rural landscapes and native forests. Largely it is still a working and changing landscape.? ? Scott says there is some uncertainty, under the Resource Management Act, about what sort of development can be carried out on ?important? landscapes in Wairarapa. ? ?While that uncertainty exists, anyone applying for a land-use change, sub-division or development may have to determine if it is in an important landscape, and then how they propose to mitigate any adverse effects on that landscape.? ? ?This uncertainty can create tensions in communities and an expensive and time-consuming process for applicants, affected parties and territorial and regional authorities.? ? Scott says the landscape evaluation project is the first step of the process to develop management mechanisms for Wairarapa?s important landscapes. Together the identification of the important landscapes and appropriate landscape management mechanisms will provide certainty for landowners and the wider community about the location and type of development that is suitable for Wairarapa?s important landscapes. ? This does not mean locking the landscape into a point in time, but rather to ensure that any activities located within them are appropriate and respect the special values that make the landscape important. ? He says the project will describe and characterise the various landscapes in Wairarapa, before evaluating them to identify, document and map the important landscapes. ? This information, along with the management mechanisms (i.e rules and guidelines) for managing these landscapes will eventually be included in the Wairarapa Combined District Plan. ? ?We have set up a steering committee to help oversee the project with representatives from the four councils, Rangitane o Wairarapa, Kahunungu ki Wairarapa and Federated Farmers.? ? Environmental and planning firm Boffa Miskell will be carrying out the project work. ? ?From February next year, we will be asking the people of the Wairarapa what local landscapes they value and why. We look forward to hearing from people.? ? For more information please contact Scott Ihaka 06 370 5628.