Consultation on the Draft District Plan closed on 31 January 2013.
People will have a further opportunity to become involved in the review process when we publicly notify a Proposed District Plan late 2013.
What is the District Plan and why do we have one?
The District Plan controls the way land is used, developed and subdivided in the District. It helps determine where activities can take place in the District, under what restrictions and what natural and cultural features should be protected.
The current Operative Plan was notified in 1997 and became fully operative in 2010.
Under the Resource Management Act 1991 every District Council in New Zealand is required to have a District Plan. District Plans are important planning documents identifying the key resource management issues in the District, what the community wants to be done about the issues and ways to achieve the outcome we want. The Draft Plan uses objectives, policies and rules to reflect the community's aspirations and responses to the issues.
How does the District Plan affect me?
The District Plan identifies a wide range of activities anticipated in the District, where they are expected to occur and under what restrictions. It affects the way you and your neighbours can use and develop your property. For many people the achievements of the District Plan go unnoticed and it is often not until people want to start a new activity or redevelop their property that they become aware of the District Plan and its intended outcomes.
At this stage the Plan is just a Draft. We are seeking community feedback to tell us what we have got right, what could be improved and what we need to re-look at. Until the Plan becomes a Proposed Plan it has no legal affect and the current Operative District Plan still applies.
Why is the District Plan being reviewed?
The current District Plan was written in the late 1990's. Over the last 15 years our communities have grown, developed and changed. To ensure the Plan is up to date with what's happening in the District and to incorporate changes to legislation, national and regional policies we are legally required to review the District Plan every 10 years.