Earthworks - District Plan Guidelines

Earthworks: means the disturbance of land by moving, placing or replacing earth, or by excavation or cutting; filling or backfilling and the removal or importation of earth (including topsoil) to or from any site, but does not include, excavation associated with.

tiling or cultivating of soil
harvesting and maintaining of crops
post holes
drilling bores
offal pits
burial of dead stock and plant waste
installation of services such as water pipes and troughs

The volume of earthworks is the sum of both cut and fill operations.

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.