Earthworks - District Plan Guidelines

‘Earthworks’ are the alteration of land contours of any site including the disturbance of land by moving, placing or replacing earth, or by excavation or cutting; filling or backfilling, but does not include the removal of less than 25m3 of earth (including topsoil) from any site in any 12 month period.

Earthworks can generate many adverse environmental effects. These could be when sediment from earthworks enters waterways; may affect soil quality and quantity; existing vegetation, outstanding natural features and landscapes; may undermine land stability; increase risk of flooding or even make the effects of flooding worse.

While earthworks are occurring, there can be problems with noise, dust and vibration, and also movement of trucks and heavy machinery on roads and vehicle crossings. In most cases sediment discharge from sites are results of earthworks; large scale earthworks are obviously a concern.

But it is the cumulative effects (ie combined effects from many earthworks activities) that have the potential to significantly affect the environment and these are of major concern to the Council.

Most of the earthworks concerns are addressed in subdivision consent applications and in land use consents where required.

District Plan Rules

Earthworks related to approved building platforms associated with subdivision and building consents do not require consent even if they are over the limits in the District Plan.

Earthworks outside an approved building platform are permitted in the thresholds for each zone as outlined below provided that;

• Where vegetation clearance occurs in association with earthworks, disturbed areas shall be re-vegetated within 12 months of the earthworks being undertaken
• Earthworks shall be undertaken on land with a slope of 45° or less.

Please note, that different rules apply where earth is being removed from the property or is being removed for the purpose of mineral, aggregate and hydrocarbon extraction or mining operations. These are addressed in Section 13.2 of the Hastings District Plan.