What's Your View is a campaign to understand the important natural features and landscapes in Southland and to get your views on where these are and why they're important.

It's the first part in the process of updating the District Plan so important natural features and landscapes are managed appropriately for now and for the future.

The Significant Natural Area (SNA) work is separate to the work being done on natural features and landscapes, however there is a link as the presence of biodiversity is one component of recognising how special our landscapes are.

We are taking an approach which comprises three pieces of a puzzle:

• community views and opinions
• professional analysis by a landscape architect
• a cultural landscape assessment by mana whenua

The findings from each piece of the puzzle will be assessed and used to identify and map where potential landscapes and natural features of significance may be within our district.

We'll then go to anyone potentially affected by the findings to check the accuracy.

We currently have some significant landscapes and natural features already mapped, for example a large portion of Stewart Island/Rakiura and parts of the Te Anau/Fiordland area. This current piece of work is to check that what we have identified is still significant, and to see if there are any other areas that we need to consider looking after in the same way.

First, we'll be asking potentially affected landowners what their views are - do they agree with the findings?

We will then look at ways we can work together to look after these important spaces for generations to come.

There will be plenty of opportunity to discuss all of this, with drop-in sessions, one-on-one meetings and Make it Stick open for comments and questions.

We want to hear your views the entire way through this process – listening and understanding forms an important part of this project for us. We want to work alongside you throughout this.

We know public and private landowners care about the land, and that our district's amazing landscapes and natural features are that way because of the way people have looked after them over many generations. We also know our landscapes are one of our greatest economic assets.

But we also know that certain activities can - even unknowingly - cause lasting damage to these important spaces.

We all have responsibilities to look after the land and we want to work alongside public and private landowners, as well as the community, to look at ways we can work together to look after what we have for future generations.

The work is also part of a Resource Management Act (RMA) requirement that involves councils throughout the country.

Ultimately, though, it's about being responsible – Southland has incredible landscapes and natural features, and we want to keep them that way, not just for us now, but for our tamariki and mokopuna to come.

The project will take some time, as we are very keen to have as many conversations with public and private landowners as possible. Roughly it is as follows: 

2020-2021

• Share your views
• What landscapes and natural features are important to you?

Late 2021-2022

• Identified areas mapped and shared
• Share your views, do you agree?
  
  
• Discussions around potential ways to look after these spaces
• Share your views, what do you think?

Mid 2022-2023

• Discussions around potential District Plan changes continue
• Draft District Plan notified
• Share your views through the formal consultation process

At a professional level, yes there is.

Outstanding Natural Landscapes

• Landscapes with exceptional attributes
• Stand out from the wider landscape
• Of national importance
• Example: Fiordland Mountain Range

Outstanding Natural Features
As per Outstanding Natural Landscapes, but

• Applies to a discrete geographical area or element within a landscape (ie. a hill or a river)
• Often viewed from outside
• Example: Waiau River Mouth

Visual Amenity Landscapes
Not categorised as Outstanding, but

• Important for amenity values and/or
• The quality of the environment
• Example: Mid Dome

Click here to complete the survey.

The survey will be open through until mid July 2021.

We welcome communication from you at any time, so please feel free to email us yourviewlandscapes@southlanddc.govt.nz or phone 0800 732 732.

Economically, socially, culturally and environmentally - natural landscapes and features have important values that are not easily replaced. 

Whether in the background of your day to day life, or something that makes you feel grateful to live in such an amazing place, landscapes and features play an important role in our community and contribute to our quality of life and sense of place.

Some activities - even unknowingly - can cause lasting damage to these spaces. 

We all have responsibilities to take care of our district. Looking after important landscapes and natural features is part of that.

It could. But well before we get to that point, we need to understand where the potentially important places are, and understand how they are currently used. We also want to discuss all of this first with any affected landowners, and ask what they think the best way of protecting these important landscapes and natural features could be. Together we will come to a solution.

It will lead to a change to the District Plan, but extensive discussions will determine what that looks like.

Email yourviewlandscapes@southlanddc.govt.nz

Give the Resource Management team a call on 0800 732 732.

Or you can ask your question in the space on this page and we'll get back to you.