10 March 2006 Chapter 14 - Discharges of Waste to Land 14.5.1 Objective and Policies Objective 1 To ensure that the management of domestic wastewater, associated with residential subdivision and development, does not adversely affect the surrounding environment. Policy 1.1 For the subdivision of land zoned Rural or Sounds Residential, where the allotments to be created are to be used for residential purposes, the option of on-site domestic wastewater management shall be evaluated against off-site alternatives and the best practicable option shall be adopted. Policy 1.2 To ensure that, where on-site management of domestic wastewater is proposed, subdivision layout, allotment size and dimensions make adequate provision for land treatment areas and reserve areas. Policy 1.3 To provide guidance on appropriate procedures for the investigation and evaluation of land for the on-site management of domestic wastewater. Policy 1.4 To avoid any further residential subdivision that would create allotments of less than 4000 square metres in those areas of Okiwi Bay and Ngakuta Bay zoned Sounds Residential, until a community sewerage scheme is established. Policy 1.5 To establish the performance of on-site wastewater management systems on individual allotments, and to assess the environmental effects of the on-site management of domestic wastewater at key localities, including: (a) Okiwi Bay (b) Ngakuta Bay (c) Double Cove (d) Anakiwa/ Tirimoana (e) Moenui The subdivision of land is a process of identifying and setting aside, legally and physically, parcels of land for specific development, including residential development. It is important that all proposed residential allotments can be serviced in a sustainable manner, including the management of domestic wastewater. If this is not achieved, the community expectations reflected in objectives elsewhere in this Plan, in terms of water and soil quality, natural hazards and residential amenity values, will not be achieved. It is therefore important that the best method for avoiding or mitigating the adverse effects of domestic wastewater discharges is selected. Developers need to consider and assess all available alternatives for managing domestic wastewater. On-site management is the obvious option where there is no sewerage system available, but shared or offsite options may also exist and should be evaluated. These include: 14 -19