The Resource Management Act 1991 makes it compulsory for councils to prepare a District Plan.
This District Plan information contained on this webpage relates to the provisions of the OPERATIVE District Plan.
Council has notified its PROPOSED Plan (Decisions version) on 30 January 2010 and there may be more restrictive rules under the Proposed Plan (Decisions version) that will affect your proposal. However, due to the ongoing plan review process, a number of rules may be subject to further changes.
You are advised to discuss any proposal with the Duty Planner.
The Plan uses rules that have the force of law, as well as other methods such as education programmes and incentives. Everybody, including Council, must comply with the plan.
Ratepayers indicate their priorities and have their say on the Plan via public submission processes (the last submission process was held during September and October 2002, prior to the District Plan becoming operative).
The Plan’s resulting maps and text outline what the community has decided you do/do not have to get a consent for, and sets boundaries for certain types of activity.
Generally speaking, the plan affects new development (i.e. new buildings) or new or changes in use of land or buildings. Many things can be done “as of right”, while others require permission from Council.
The biggest users of the Plan are those who need to know a lot about certain types of activity that modify land, vegetation and buildings, for example surveyors, architects, developers and real estate agents.
From a ‘general public’ point of view, people would only become generally aware of the Plan if they wanted to do some kind of development to their property.
Some of the publications below are in pdf file format and you will need Adobe PDF Reader to view them. If you don't have this you can download Adobe PDF Reader for free.
Activity Environments
General Provisions
Maps
Appendices