District Plan Review: Important to every landowner

11 April, 2022

What has been described as “the rule book for development”– the draft Kaipara District Plan – is due to be published in May and go out for ratepayer and resident feedback in June and July.

The Plan will affect every ratepayer as its main goal is to:

· Provide rules for how people can build on or develop land, whether it is residential, commercial or rural.

· Provide a framework for KDC to sustainably manage the district’s natural and physical resources to meet the needs of current and future generations.

Local Authority District Plans are reviewed every 10 years and Kaipara District Council’s (KDC) review process began with initial public consultation in August and September 2021.

Since then, the council has been reviewing the various plan aspects that include Transport, Renewable Energy Generation, Infrastructure, Future Development, Ecosystems and Biodiversity, a Tangata Whenua Chapter and future development zones.

Mangawhai Matters Society Inc provided feedback on the pre-draft Plan which was initial thoughts from council staff on the overall framework of the document in September 2021. Since then, council staff and consultants have presented draft Plan sections to councillors at monthly briefings.

Public review critical
Later this month a complete draft, including the highly confidential changes to zoning across the district, will be put before councillors at a private briefing. In May councillors will approve the final draft Plan to be notified for public feedback.

The two-month public consultation/feedback/review timetable is critically important as the changes proposed are likely to affect every landowner across the district in some way or another. If you do not get involved in this process, or the Proposed Plan process to follow, there may not be another opportunity to be involved in the direction of the district for another 10 years.

Once this process is complete KDC will prepare and formally notify a Proposed District Plan that will be open for public submission. This is the statutory, or legal process, of creating the Plan that will guide development for another 10 years. There will be opportunities to make submissions and then also further submissions where you can support or oppose submissions made by others. While it is challenging to get changes made to a proposed plan, the changes sought and the reasons for them will be heard by

independent planning commissioners, who will advise the council on any modifications that should be made. If people or businesses feel unhappy about aspects of the plan then adopted by the Council, they can appeal to the Environment Court for a ruling.

The Plan will become fully operable and legally enforceable once the Court has made its rulings. Those parts that are usually adopted – and become binding – even while appeals are proceeding.

Some issues:
· KDC staff have been rushing to complete the District Plan under the current Resource Management Act. This Act is due for revision by the Government and there is a fear new provisions might make the review process more complicated and difficult.

· One of the challenges they face is responding to a raft of national edicts (or policy statements) to do with urban development, coastal water, freshwater, and soon highly versatile soils. The Council has to adhere to national environmental standards while recognising and accommodating what is distinctive about Kaipara, its natural environments and diverse communities.

· Given the resulting complexity of issues and ongoing changes in the relevant national policies, there is a real concern that the process is being rushed. After intense stress caused by Covid there is a view that ratepayers and residents are suffering from “burnout” and won’t have the energy or inclination to participate in important feedback sessions in June and July.

· The two-month public feedback timetable is too short. Covid issues, the range and complexity of issues, and the size of the review document will need people to put time and thought into their responses, and, perhaps, to seek advice from a range of experts. The decisions could potentially have a dramatic effect on local communities and residents’ livelihoods.

Future growth challenge
Despite questions over timing there appears to be a genuine effort by KDC to get as much public feedback on the Plan as possible. This is important given we may be facing a new era of pressure on the district’s small settlements, rural areas, and infrastructure from the growing popularity of our rural and coastal areas for households moving out of the cities. The challenge is how much of that demand can be supported without undermining the quality of the Kaipara environment and lifestyle.

For its part, Mangawhai Matters will be watching carefully to ensure that the provisions of the mediated settlement with Mangawhai Central in relation to PC78 are dropped straight into the District Plan. The evidence to date is that this is council staff’s intention, but Mangawhai Matters will be looking after ratepayers’ interest in this regard. Ideally, they will be reflected in planning for other communities and townships in the district.

Mangawhai Matters would appreciate if Mangawhai residents’ submissions on the Plan were copied to our organisation so that we can assist in supporting local people. Send your submissions to managawhaimatters@gmail.com.

n Want to join the Mangawhai Matters Society Inc. as a member and have a say? It’s only $20 per family per year. Please make deposits to 01-0204-0160241-00. Following your payment please email us at mangawhaimatters@gmail.com giving us your name, phone, and address so we can keep in touch.