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Palmerston North City Council Environmental Information

Publications

Here is a selection of documents from the Palmerston North City Council relevant for the sustainability of our environment.

PNCC Plans and Policies

• State of the Environment 2000 Palmerston North, See Section 25 of the District Plan
• Environmental Policy Palmerston North - see below
• District Plan Palmerston North
• Bike Plan Palmerston North
• Interim Greening Strategy

Recycling
The City Council provides a wide range of waste management services including two recycling centres -> more info

Zero Waste
The City Council adopted the target for New Zealand to aim for Zero Waste - creating Knowaste

PNCC Environmental Policy

The Environmental Policy(1998) is an important milestone in providing a strategic direction to the Council's substantial and varied role in environmental issues. The concept of "sustainable development" is the foundation of the Policy and it is the Council's first attempt at working toward a Local Agenda 21.

The Council is currently undertaking a review of the Environmental Policy(1998). This process is to be completed by June 2003.

The following goal, guiding principles and policies that make up the Environmental Policy(1998) are based on the key issues identified throughout the consultation process and predominant roles the Council plays in environmental issues.

The Goal

To make Palmerston North a Sustainable City

A place that has a liveable built environment, sustainable natural and economic environment and equitable social environment

Our Guiding Principles

Outlining guiding principles is an important part of the policy making process because they often express the underlying beliefs and intentions behind social policy.

The part the Council intends to play in addressing environmental issues (Our Role)

A Leader - The Council will be a role model for the community. It will lead by example through ensuring that the significant amount resources it uses are managed in a sustainable manner and by playing a key role in facilitating community agreement on environmental issues.

An Educator - The Council will play a key role as an educator so that present and future generations make sustainability an integral part of their life.

A Regulator - The Council has a statutory obligation to regulate some activities so that their adverse environmental effects are managed appropriately. The Council will use its regulatory function in circumstances where promoting voluntary action is considered inappropriate.

An Advocate - There are a number of environmental issues that are important to the community where the Council has little direct influence or control. In these instances, the Council will advocate on environmental issues affecting Palmerston North to other organisations.

The way the Council intends to address environmental issues (Our Style)

Being responsive to community trends and technology - The Council will attempt to anticipate and respond to community trends and will not be afraid to consider adopting new technologies. The Council will strive to achieve a level of community consensus on its proposed actions by actively listening to all views expressed.

Using the highest ratio between benefits and costs - When undertaking major environmental projects, the Council will adopt the option that provides the appropriate balance between economic, environmental and social costs and benefits.

Taking a regional approach - The Council will seek opportunities to combine resources with organisations outside the City on major environmental projects.

The Policies

The issues addressed in the Environmental Policy(1998) are:

• Tangata Whenua and the environment
• Recognising the value of ecosystems
• Developing 'green corridors'
• Enhancing amenity, conserving heritage values and urban design
• managing urban growth
• Contributing toward a safe and healthy environment
• Transportation
• Improving energy efficiency
• Wastewater
• Improving the health and use of the Manawatu River
• Sustainable management of solid waste
• Ensuring quality drinking water
• Improving the impact of Council's activities

The policies address a range of issues that the Council consider are most important to Palmerston North as opposed to tackling every possible environmental issue (and thus making the Policy much lengthier and less likely to be implemented).

For further information about the Palmerston North City Council's Environmental Policy, please contact the City Future Unit of the City Council.