13 May 2016

Strong Golden Bay Input into Changes to Rural Land Use

Proposed Plan Change 60 - Rural Land Use and Subdivision Policy Review

Tasman District Council is taking the next step with changes to planning rules for rural land, releasing the summaries of submissions and calling for further feedback. The summaries will be available from Monday in all Tasman libraries, the Richmond and Murchison service centres and online at tasman.govt.nz.

People who believe they are affected by the submissions already made have the ability to contribute further to the process.

Policy Planner Mary Honey says about half of the 145 responses were from Golden Bay.

“There was general approval for the proposed approach of protecting productive land, but there was also a wide spectrum of opinion about how to best achieve that.”

The issues raise will present challenges for the decision-makers, she said.

“The Council has to balance the interests of the individual landowners to live and use their land as they wish with the effects that this might have on neighbours and the wider community. In addition, the Council has responsibility to sustainably manage the land resource to meet current needs as well as those of future generations.”

View Submissions

The summaries of the submissions and copies of the original submissions are available for viewing at Council service centres, libraries and on our website atwww.tasman.govt.nz/link/trmp-summaries from Monday 16 May.

About the Submissions Received – Specific Issues

A breakdown of the submissions received and overview of submissions broad themes.

Rural Housing

Many submitters supported the proposals that allow for more flexible housing opportunities and opportunities for co-operative living on sites of any size, for example:

• The proposals for a detached minor dwelling as an alternative to a second attached housekeeping unit of any size site in the Rural 1 and 2 zones and a site of 2 ha in the Rural Residential zone were supported. Some submitters requested that the proposals be extended further to allow for a minor second dwelling on any size site in the Rural Residential zone, and others requested that multiple housing be allowed on all sites regardless of size in all zones.

• The proposals that guide applications for co-operative living in the Rural 1 and 2 zones were largely supported. Some submitters requested that consent applications be assessed at overall Discretionary level, and others requested that the opportunity for co-operative living be extended to the Rural Residential zone as well.

Rural Subdivision

A large number of submitters called for more flexibility for subdivision, especially of small sites and on unproductive land of any zone. Some submitters, in particular, requested that the minimum lot size for ‘as of right subdivision’ (ie the controlled level of consent for subdivision) be reduced.

Temporary Activities

The temporary activity provisions have received mixed response. Some submitters stated that, generally, the scale and duration of temporary activities can’t be regulated sensibly while others commented on the risks associated with allowing temporary events in the rural productive areas.

Rural business

Generally, the proposals aimed at regulating rural business activities not related to agricultural and plant production more effectively were supported except by those directly affected by the provisions.

Other Issues

As with the earlier consultations, submitters have raised issues not addressed in this Plan change such as the need for a zoning review and for planning provisions that are tailored to the special characteristics of Golden Bay.

Some submitters raised issues that Council cannot control, such as the affordability of housing and the lack of employment opportunities.

Challenges for Decision Makers

As always, Council has to balance the interests of the individual landowners to live and use their land as they wish with the effects that this might have on neighbours and the wider community; and with Council’s responsibility to sustainably manage the land resource to meet current needs as well as those of future generations.

Making a Further Submission

You may submit a further submission until 4.00 pm on Monday 30 May 2016. Further submissions must be limited to matters in support of or in opposition to an original submission.

Forms for making further submissions are also available on our websitewww.tasman.govt.nz/link/trmp-pc or from Council offices (Pam Meadows phone 543 8581 or email pam.meadows@tasman.govt.nz).

Next Steps

A hearing is expected to be held in late August or early September. Staff are preparing reports on the matters raised in submissions which will be available before the Council hearing on the Proposed Change

After the hearing, Council makes decisions on the proposed Change and an amended version of the Change is publicised. At that stage if, as a submitter, you do not agree with any decisions made, you will have an opportunity to appeal.

The proposed rules first take effect when decisions are released and become fully operative when they are beyond contest.

ENDS

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