Thursday 13 November 2014

New Council rates remissions and bylaws passed

The Christchurch City Council at its meeting today agreed to rates remissions for a number of properties in the Port Hills. It also passed three new bylaws and one amended bylaw, all of which come into force on 1 December 2014.

Expansion of Fair and Equitable Rates Remissions

The Council will offer a new rates remission to owners of Port Hills properties identified as Mass Land Movement Class 1 Risk.

The 100 per cent remission will apply to green-zoned properties and expires at the earlier of:

• 30 June 2015 or

• when the owners accept a Council and / or Crown purchase offer, or

• when the Council has finished remediation work to protect the property.

The Council has also agreed to a 30 per cent rates remission for business properties where repairs or redevelopment cannot be done because Council or CERA-owned fencing is preventing site access.

Cruising and Prohibited Times on Roads Bylaw 2014

This bylaw brings together the Council’s existing bylaw controls targeting ‘boy racer’ activities. Aimed at restricting both cruising and the racing of motor vehicles that may cause a public nuisance, the bylaw allows the Council to prohibit cruising on specified roads up to 7 days a week from 10pm to 5am and to control access to certain roads at night.

Traffic and Parking Amendment Bylaw 2014

The amended bylaw extends the way people can pay for parking fees such as by using mobile phones and the internet. It also gives the Council clear authority to create shared paths and shared zones. In response to submitters, the Council aligned the definitions for cycle, mobility device, pedestrian, power-assisted cycle and wheeled recreational device with those in the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004.

Urban Fire Safety Bylaw 2014

This updates fire safety issues in Christchurch’s nine Urban Fire Districts. In response to submitters the Council changed the definition of open air fires to include braziers and the burning and release of paper lanterns. Such ‘open air fires’ and devices would be banned when there is an open air fire ban. It also extended to three metres the distance from hedges and fences that the public can light fires.

Water Supply, Wastewater and Stormwater Bylaw 2014

This bylaw aims to maintain public health and safety, and to protect the Council’s water supply, wastewater and stormwater systems from misuse or damage. It requires new dwellings and commercial buildings in the Akaroa and Little River areas to install 5000 litres of extra water storage. However in response to submissions, some new buildings such as temporary and replacement buildings of the same size or smaller than the original, would not have to install the additional storage.

Other new provisions aimed to improve the quality and quality of stormwater flowing into the public stormwater network and to prevent damage to the system. Stormwater discharges into the Council network would have to meet minimum standards. However where discharges have been approved under a building or Environment Canterbury resource consent they would not need Council approval.

The Council decided to refer Parks and Reserves Bylaw 2014 back to the Council Hearings Panel to further consider the issues of burying or scattering of ashes in parks and reserves, and the flying of drones in parks and reserves.

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