Roading and tracking
Building roads and tracks can cause slips above and below the road, they can make watercourses muddy, and create dust nuisance. The likelihood of creating these effects mostly depends on the type of soil, and how steep the land is. The steeper the land, the more carefully engineered the road or track should be to avoid or decrease the likelihood of creating these effects. The Regional Council only requires land use consents for road construction on steep sites because this is where there is the highest risk of adverse effects.
Roading and tracking is controlled in the Regional Soil Plan. The term roading and tracking is defined in the Regional Soil Plan.
Rule 1 of the Regional Soil Plan requires a land use consent for soil disturbance associated with formation or upgrade of roads and tracks, including skid sites and access ways, if the activity exceeds particular thresholds (related to the steepness of the land) stated in the rule. This is a restricted discretionary activity. This rule does not apply if the roading or tracking is already authorised by a subdivision consent from the district or city council. If the activity does not exceed those thresholds, no land use consent is required from the Regional Council, although a land use consent may be required from the district or city council.