The District Plan is a legal document which is required by the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).
The plan is required to work towards the sustainable management of the District's natural and physical resources and provides the means for the Council and communities to manage the environmental effects of activities in the District.
Thames-Coromandel District Council (TCDC) is working towards adopting an Operative District Plan, however until this process is finalised, we are operating under the Operative in Part District Plan.
Council's District Plan moves through different stages as part of the consultative process. This process can include changes, appeals, and variations and amendments made to the Plan as a consequence of Environment Court Decisions, or corrections made to reflect Councils decisions.
Go to - Variations
A variation allows for an alteration to be made to zones or rules or other plan provisions before the plan becomes operative. It is a prescribed statutory process involving consultation with the public and consideration of submissions made by submitters following the notification of any variation.
A variation has a public hearing held so that submitters can talk to their submissions. A committee of Council will consider all submissions and further submissions lodged, and issue decisions on these.
Go to - Decisions
Once plan changes/variations to the proposed District Plan have completed the statutory process, a decision is adopted and is incorporated into the proposed District Plan.
Go to - Appeals
Submitters who disagree with Council's decision can appeal to the Environment Court. Legal and planning advice should be sought prior to doing this.
You will need to refer to the Resource Management Act and ensure:
- You have carefully considered the decision
- The decision issues you wish to challenge, do not go beyond those expressed in the original submission
- That your appeal has been lodged within 15 working days of receipt of the decision, and;
- You have specified your status (submitter/further submitter)
- You referred to the provisions of the Plan from which you seek relief, and clearly spelt out the nature of the relief you seek
- You have provided full and clear reasons for the appeal
- You copied your appeal to Council, and every person who made a submission on that provision within the time specified
Address for delivery:
The Registrar
Environment Court
5th Floor
District Court Building
49 Balance Street
WELLINGTON
For more information about the District Plan. please contact our Customer Services team.