Hearings Continue For Wairarapa’s Growth Blueprint

Tuesday, 4 February 2025, 8:48 pm
Article: Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter

Hearings for a plan of epic proportions have reached a halfway point in Wairarapa.

The region’s combined district plan is the blueprint for land use and future development across Masterton, Carterton, and South Wairarapa.

To date, commissioners have heard more than 1000 submission points and expert opinions, spanning more than 40 hours of formal hearings.

Up next on the extensive schedule is the hearing for energy and network utilities, set for February 17 and 18.

A report from planners said the remaining key issues in contention that needed to be resolved through the hearing process included whether additional rules should be added to the plan to manage renewable electricity generation activities, particularly solar farms.

Commissioners would also need to decide whether the district plan’s objectives and policies should be more enabling or restrictive of renewable electricity generation activities.

Regarding network utilities, a key issue that needed to be resolved was whether the height or size of permitted structures such as towers should be increased.

Topics already covered in hearings last year included urban, rural, and Māori purpose zones, as well as heritage and natural character matters.

In the urban zone hearing, the key issues in contention included how best to manage reverse sensitivity effects, how best to manage the competing factors of residential growth and infrastructure constraints, and whether to remove minimum lot sizes.

Still to go on the hearing schedule were district-wide matters such as transport, subdivision, hazards, light, noise, and signs.

These hearings would take place between late-February and mid-April.

In May, hearings would be dedicated to designations -- land set aside for public works or projects such as roads, telecommunications, electricity network, and council projects.

Rezoning matters would follow, and hearings were scheduled to be completed by May 26.

Following the conclusion of hearings, the hearing panel would deliberate on all the submissions and evidence received.

Their decisions would be made available on wairarapaplan.co.nz, likely to be in the second half of 2025.

– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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