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5.1 The desired future
Planning Rodney sketches a conceptual future district of:
Contained towns and villages set in a stable rural landscape and a well protected natural environment.
This translates into:
1. A dynamic rural area, essential to preserve for reasons of its economic potential, it's natural qualities and its attractiveness as a place to live.
2. A much valued and protected natural environment – the very thing that makes Rodney special.
3. A system of urban areas, from large towns to the smallest villages, some facing the prospects of strong growth but each still highly valued as home to existing communities who cherish their way and quality of life;
4. Good infrastructure and a transport system that improves accessibility for people and supports the local economy.
5.2 The strategic elements
The desired future state will not happen by itself. Indeed, unless we make good decisions and follow them up with timely actions, the future Rodney may be one that that is unsustainable – one that we, our children or even our grandchildren find unappealing and disappointing.
Planning Rodney proposes a series of seven strategic elements or approaches to achieve a desired future state for each of the different spatial elements making up the district.
The strategic approaches suggest:
1. Focusing growth management efforts and resources in seven selected primary urban centres.
2. Taking a precautionary approach to growth in a number of towns under pressure before agreeing to commit major resources to these towns.
3. Preserving and enhancing four green buffer areas that separate the more active and developed parts of the district.
4. Facilitating economic prosperity and the functioning of the main agricultural production areas with appropriate infrastructure investment and by limiting their use for rural residential lifestyle and other non-farming activities.
5. Facilitating and enhancing the use of three identified mixed rural activity belts, accepting that in parallel to their high usage, they can still be sought after, sustainable and attractive environments.
6. Focusing resources in the villages and settlements in accordance with the role each plays in the community and the district.
7. A short to medium-term focus on roading as the primary transport mode but with a fundamental shift occurring to other modes over time.
The seven strategic elements are depicted on map 6 in the document. Click here to view map.
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