Why Do We Have A District Plan?
The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) requires all district and city councils to prepare plans for their district. Each plan describes the district’s significant resource management issues and sets out the objectives, policies and methods to address these issues.
Auckland Council District Plan (Rodney Section) 2011
The Proposed Rodney District Plan, which was notified in November 2000, has progressively been made operative since January 2009. The last five chapters became operative on 29 July 2011.
The only outstanding issue is an appeal to Variation 51 – Gulf Harbour therefore Special Zone 18: Gulf Harbour, remains proposed.
You can view the Auckland District Plan (Rodney Section) 2011 here.
This District Plan replaces the former Operative District Plan 1993.
What are Variations and Plan Changes?
If the Council modifies or amends requirements under a Proposed District Plan this is called a Variation. Only the Council can initiate a Variation. All Variations are publicly notified and any person can lodge a submission in relation to a particular variation.
Plan Changes are amendments and modifications to an Operative District Plan. Plan Changes can be initiated by private individuals or by the Council itself, unlike variations which only the Council can initiate. All Plan Changes are publicly notified and any person can lodge a submission in relation to a Plan Change.
Any Variations to the Proposed District Plan 2000 which are still in the process are now treated as Plan Changes to the Auckland Council District Plan (Rodney Section ) 2011.
Plan Change Process
The diagram below shows the preparation and processes involved in making changes to the District Plan:
It can take up to two years between notification of a Plan Change and a decision.
Submissions and Hearings
The Resource Management Act 1991 requires that all Plan Changes and Variations must be publicly notified. Once publicly notified, anyone can make a submission either in support or opposition to the proposed changes. A summary of submissions is then prepared, and an opportunity is provided for parties to lodge further submissions either supporting or opposing the original submissions that were received.
The Council is required to convene a hearing to consider all the submissions and any other relevant information before making a decision on Plan Change or Variation.
Generally, the process would be expected to take at least six months and longer if the Council's decision is subject to appeal to the Environment Court.
