New rules to protect New Zealand's most productive soils are welcome in Dunedin, although the city has already lost fertile land it should never have allowed to be developed, Mayor Dave Cull says.
Mr Cull was commenting after the Government unveiled a draft National Policy Statement on Wednesday, requiring councils to abide by a new national approach to protect highly productive land.
About 14% of New Zealand land was considered highly productive, but it was under increasing pressure from urban expansion as the need for housing ramped up.
Under the proposed new approach, which was now open for public consultation, councils would have to ensure there was enough highly productive land available for primary production - now and in the future - and protect it from inappropriate subdivisions or other development.
Mr Cull said yesterday he welcomed the intent of the new approach, which was consistent with the council's second generation district plan (2GP).
The 2GP restricted future urban sprawl on the Taieri Plain for reasons including the need to protect high-class soils, because of their value in food production, he said.
However, it was fair to say the city - on the Taieri Plain in particular - had already lost productive land it should not have to housing developments, Mr Cull said.
"I think we've built on some soils that we oughtn't to have."
The new approach coming out of Wellington also risked conflicting with the increasing emphasis on the need for new housing, in Dunedin and elsewhere, he said.
The Government was expected to unveil another NPS, on urban development, next week, but Environment Minister David Parker said the two documents would ensure "we get the balance right".
Mr Cull, who is also Local Government New Zealand president, said the "obvious place" for new urban development was between Auckland and Hamilton, but that was also where "a good amount" of highly productive soil was.
"We see these two as head-butting one another."
In Dunedin, there was scope to restrict development in areas of high-class soil while making it easier elsewhere, including through intensification of existing urban areas, Mr Cull said.
"In the long run, food resilience is going to be really, really important, especially in light of climate change effects.
"If you're weighing up the importance of places for people to live that might otherwise be places that feed them, I think you'd say that the long-term higher value is keeping people fed.
Dunedin City Council city development manager Anna Johnson said the draft rules would offer valuable guidance to councils, but, at first glance, seemed well aligned with the 2GP rules for Dunedin.
