After mediations with Forest and Bird over bat protection, a rezone of rural land in the Waikato Airport’s business zone is set for development.
A joint proposal in 2022 presented to Waipa District Council by Titanium Park Ltd and Rukuhia Properties Ltd requested approval to expand Titanium Park’s northern precinct by 130 hectares.
After years of working alongside Forest and Bird to ensure the survival and well-being of long-tailed bats in the area, the remaining 89ha still to be rezoned will now become a part of the business zone this week.
“The fact that this land borders the airport provides an opportunity to develop both non aeronautical but also aeronautical industrial commercial land.
“And it provides that buffer to residential owned land as well. So there’s an airport that provides a nice buffer.”
The original plan had been approved by the council in 2023, but was appealed by Forest and Bird, the Department of Conservation, and the Waikato Regional Council, who were concerned the previous measures to protect the bats wouldn’t be enough.
The change being made after mediations with Forest and Bird is that two sections of land will be maintained as natural habitats for the long-tailed bats. These include 11ha of rural land, and a 4.1ha previous lifestyle block, Morgan said.
Morgan said the airport was already very aware of the bats’ presence in the area, and has even used their image in the airport’s designs and brand identity.
Their original plan to protect the bats through the development was to stick to a “bat management plan”, which included identifying “all potential bat roost trees within the Northern Precinct” and deciding on the practicality of retaining each potential roost tree.
“For any trees that cannot be integrated into the future development of the precinct, the Bat Management Plan shall specify best practice tree removal protocols, and mitigation for any trees to be removed.
“Where any ecological effects are unable to be entirely mitigated, the Bat Management Plan shall set out methods to ensure that any more than minor residual ecological effects are offset to achieve a no net loss outcome.”
Waipa District Council’s manager of district plan and growth Wendy Robinson said the plan change reflects council’s struggle in maintaining balance between protection of environment and economy.
“It shows that there’s definitely going to be increasing pressures on striking that balance. The more that we develop, the more we encroach on that native habitat,” she said.
“We can’t only look at the economy, and we can’t only look at the environment. It’s about ensuring that where we live, and how we live, are compatible.”
The two sections reserved for bat life will be transferred to a charitable trust. The new bat management plan will include tree planting on both sections, and monitoring activity.
This will begin as land consents for the development are required, Robinson said, and the 11ha site will be worked on first.
To see the original, full article in the Waikato Times, click here.
