Sport and Active Recreation Zone

District plan rules for the Sport and Active Recreation Zone in Whangārei, New Zealand.

Summarised from the Whangārei District Plan. This is a summary compiled from the council's published plan, not the plan itself — and not legal or planning advice. Always verify against the council's official document before relying on any figure, and check whether a more recent plan change applies.

Sport and Active Recreation Zone — Whangārei

Overview

The Sport and Active Recreation Zone (SARZ) provides for large open space areas primarily used for organised activities including events and indoor/outdoor organised sports. It includes destination parks, sports fields, hard-court areas, multi-sports facilities, community activities, boat ramps, public gardens, cemeteries, community halls, and civic spaces. These areas are actively managed with high levels of development, public utilisation and social interaction.

Objectives

SARZ-O1: Recreation and Community Activities Provide for a range of accessible sport, active recreational and community activities.

SARZ-O3: Associated Activities Recognise the potential effects on adjacent sites and surrounding areas from sport, active recreation and community activities. Enable activities directly associated with sport and recreation that enhance the use and enjoyment of the Sport and Active Recreation Zone.

Policies

SARZ-P2: Adverse Effects

  • Enable active recreation by providing for a range of accessible sport, recreational and community activities, associated buildings and infrastructure
  • Manage adverse effects on residents, the community and the environment by limiting the scale and location of buildings

SARZ-P4: Enabled Activities

  • Manage the nature, scale, intensity and location of activities to ensure they are compatible with the amenity of surrounding Residential Zones
  • Enhance the use and enjoyment of the Sport and Active Recreation Zone by enabling activities that are ancillary to sport and recreation on the site

SARZ-P5: Non-Recreation Activities

  • Ensure non-recreational or non-active sport activities are not likely to generate reverse sensitivity effects
  • Ensure they support or are compatible with the operation of place of assembly, recreational or educational activities within the Zone
  • Ensure that the potential establishment of future place of assembly, recreational or educational activities is not compromised by the nature, scale and design of activities and buildings
  • Do not compromise the viability and vitality of the City Centre, Waterfront, Mixed Use, Local Centre, Neighbourhood Centre and Shopping Centre Zones

Building Standards

RuleValueNotes
Maximum building height10m above ground levelExcluding floodlights
Maximum floodlight height18.5m above ground level
Maximum major structure height10m above ground levelExcluding floodlights
Building setback from Residential ZoneMinimum of adjoining zoneAs per closest adjoining zone
Major structure setback from Residential ZoneMinimum of adjoining zoneAs per closest adjoining zone
Building setback from Mean High Water Springs or river top of bank27m minimumExcluding bridges, culverts, fences
Major structure setback from Mean High Water Springs or river top of bank27m minimumExcluding bridges, culverts, fences
Artificial lighting pole maximum height6mExempt from SARZ-R5(2) setback requirement
Height in relation to boundaryMinimum of adjoining zoneAs per closest adjoining zone

Permitted Activities — Primary & Ancillary Activities

ActivityLocation ConditionsOperating Conditions
Primary or ancillary activitiesWithin 50m of Residential Zone boundaries OR further than 50m from Residential Zone boundariesIf within 50m: not open for visitors, clients, deliveries or servicing; operates 08:00–22:00 hours only
Primary or ancillary activitiesFurther than 50m from Residential Zone boundariesNo time or access restrictions

Permitted Activities — Ancillary Commercial Activities

ActivityStatusConditions
Ancillary place of assembly, recreational facility or education facility activities (Rules SARZ-R8 to SARZ-R11 combined)PermittedMust be ancillary to primary place of assembly, recreational facility or education facility on same site AND further than 50m from Residential Zone AND cumulative gross floor area < 25% of site area AND cumulative outdoor area < 500m²

Storage & Stockpiling

RuleConditions
Outdoor storage or stockpileMust comply with building height, setback and height in relation to boundary rules (SARZ-R4–R6) AND be screened from view from adjacent public places and surrounding Local Centre, Mixed Use, Residential and Open Space and Recreation Zones, EXCEPT construction materials may remain unscreened for maximum 12 months within each 10-year period from 15 July 2020

Subdivision Standards

RuleValueNotes
Subdivision design and layoutMust facilitate place of assembly, recreational or educational activitiesTo avoid fragmentation of SARZ land

Non-Complying Activities

Any primary or ancillary activity that does not comply with the Permitted Activity conditions above is classified as Non-Complying.

General Rules

Permitted Activity Status Requirements:

  • Activity must not be prohibited under any rule of the District Plan
  • Activity must not require resource consent under any other rule of the District Plan
  • Activity must be in accordance with Section 4(3) of the Resource Management Act 1991

Minor Building Exemption: Minor buildings are exempt from rules SARZ-R4–R6 (building height, setbacks, and height in relation to boundary).

Other zones in Whangārei