7 August 2002

Council cuts red tape on Gulf Islands

Gulf Island landowners will have more flexibility to develop their properties following an Auckland City review of “unnecessarily restrictive controls” in the District Plan.

Councillor Juliet Yates, chairperson of the City Development Committee, says consultation over a three year period with the Gulf community helped the review.

The review involves four proposed plan changes relating to subdivision, earthworks, clearing native plants and the definition of required space on sites for future development.

“While recognising the essential character of the Gulf Islands and ensuring for its protection, the changes will cut unnecessarily restrictive controls in the district plan where owners of affected land units envisage development,” she says.

“The proposed plan changes respond to changing conditions in the Gulf. The District Plan will be more straightforward and encouraging of compliance with the plan following the proposed changes.”

The changes will also reduce the number of resource consents currently required, “while at the same time improving the natural and built environment for everyone.”

The changes are part of an ongoing review of the Hauraki Gulf Islands section of the District Plan requested by the Auditor General in an October 2000 report and endorsed by Auckland City’s City Development Committee earlier this year.

Submissions can be made from 4 August to 30 September.

Councillor Yates said the following proposed plan changes were:

- Plan change 23, relating to subdivision: Provision would be made for increased subdivision potential in certain land units where the environment could sustain it.

- Plan change 24, relating to earthworks: Changes were proposed to simplify the process in making application for moving earth. The regulations would be more clearly written.

- Plan change 25, relating to native vegetation clearance: Threatened species would be protected, but the change would be less restrictive where it was necessary to clear a site or building platform.

- Plan change 26, relating to Lot coverage: Provides the definition of required space on sites proposed for future development.

ENDS

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