The district plan is the key document that tells you what you can and cannot do on land in the district. It covers the CBD, residential suburbs, industrial areas and rural land in the district. The policies and rules in a district plan are designed to maintain a high standard of environmental responsibility and sustainability.
The history of Rotorua's development as a city plays a major part in where activities are situated on the landscape. The city, in many ways, is a product of its environment. The district has a variety of lakes and geothermal features which, for over a century, have been a focus of tourism and recreation. The district also has large tracts of arable land for pastoral, agricultural and forestry activities. Rotorua is also regarded as a cultural heartland for North Island Maori. Maori make up a significant proportion of our population and the economic value of Maori cultural tourism is high.
What we want to do is often based around these key drivers. For example, construction of the energy events centre or transforming the regional airport to international status are both directly linked to Rotorua's history as a major tourist destination. Rotorua's history and aspirations present a number of significant resource management issues. We accept that landscapes will undergo change. How we manage that change is largely what this new district plan will be geared for.