News Release
Tuesday 30 October 2012

District Plan “notified” after five years in development

ROTORUA 30.10.12: After five years of comprehensive research, intensive consultation and detailed refinement, Rotorua District Council has entered the next phase in producing a second generation District Plan for Rotorua.

At an extraordinary meeting of Rotorua District Council this afternoon the council resolved to formally “notify” the proposed district plan, a phase where the community is able to make formal submissions on the plan’s content and play a meaningful part in developing its final form.

District Plans are legal documents required under government legislation to guide councils in managing city and district development by regulating the effects of new buildings and activities.

Planning Services manager Liam Dagg said the plan underwent an additional consultation phase in April last year when it was released in draft form for comment by key stakeholders and the wider community.

“It generated a lot of interest and valuable responses, and we have been working with those stakeholders since then to improve the draft version. As a result it has had numerous changes and has advanced significantly to the point where it is now a comprehensive and solid plan with a clear primary focus on encouraging sustainable growth for the district.”

Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters said the council urged individuals, organisations and other groups to make submissions on what he said was the district’s most important regulatory document for land use.

“Submissions close on 18 January and we hope to be in a position to make final decisions this time next year. So please take up this opportunity to have your say on the district’s future development and direction,” said Mr Winters.

To help people participate in the submission process the council is making duty policy planners available during business hours to discuss the plan and talk through related topics of interest.

There will also be four separate open days for members of the public to come along and discuss components of the plan before making their submissions. These will be held at Te Runanga Tea House in Government Gardens on:

• Wednesday 14 November 2012
• Tuesday 27 November 2012
• Wednesday 12 December 2012
• Tuesday 8 January 2013

Mr Dagg said the District Plan was available on the council website rdc.govt.nz [from 3pm tomorrow – Weds 31 October] and submissions could be made directly online. They could also be emailed to planenquiry@rdc.govt.nz or posted to the council marked for the attention of the Planning Services Manager.

He said hard copies were also available for inspection at the Customer Centre of the Rotorua District Council Civic Centre, and at the Rotorua District Library.

“Anyone who gave us feedback previously and contributed to the Draft District Plan last year will be contacted directly and invited to provide further input into this proposed version of the plan.”

“If there are any questions about the plan or the process for making submissions please feel free to contact our Customer Centre team on 07 348 4199 or email planenquiry@rdc.govt.nz,” said Mr Dagg.

ENDS

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