Make your view count

The Christchurch City Council is seeking public feedback on its final set of proposals for the Replacement Christchurch District Plan.

The proposals were notified on 25 July. Since then there have been more than 36,000 online property searches, many hundreds of people have phoned or emailed the Council to get information or to talk to a planner and around 1500 people have so far attended the drop-ins.

The proposals include provisions for additional flood management areas; high flood hazard, flood ponding, coastal inundation and coastal erosion management areas; as well as listed trees, heritage buildings, sites of ecological significance and areas of natural character or significant landscape. There are also proposed Specific Purpose Zones, including one for Flat Land Recovery which will be of interest to people who still own property in CERA's "residential red zone."

The coastal hazard proposal in the review limits intensification (including new building and subdivision) in areas likely to be susceptible to coastal erosion within the next 50 years, or vulnerable to sea water inundation associated with a 1 in 50 year storm event. Less restrictive controls are proposed for areas identified as potentially susceptible to coastal erosion within the 50-100 year period or vulnerable to sea water inundation in a 1 in 100 year storm event. The new coastal hazard rules assume a one metre sea level rise over the next 100 years.*

Most properties in the new coastal inundation management areas are in existing or proposed flood management areas, with rules requiring raised floor levels for new buildings and additions to mitigate the effects of potential flooding in areas likely to be affected by a major flood event.

The online property search at www.proposeddistrictplan.ccc.govt.nz can be used to look up any property in the district to see how it is affected by the review. Once people know what issues affect their property, they can find out what this will mean for them in the future. There are videos online showing people how to use the property search and the plan itself, as well as how to make a submission. The drop-ins provide an opportunity for people to speak one on one to a planner and the same service is offered over the phone or by email for those not able to attend the drop-ins. The drop-ins continue until Monday 24 August and the details of remaining sessions are available below.

"People are encouraged to find out more and then to make a submission saying whether they support or object to the Council proposals," says Chief Planning Officer Mike Theelen.

"We want to know what people think about our proposal to limit intensification of development in coastal hazard areas as well as the other stage three proposals," says Mike Theelen. "These are important decisions for the future of our district."

Although the Council does not hear submissions, it provides information to help explain the proposals and to support people through the process.

Submissions made to the Council are passed on to the Independent Hearings Panel, which conducts hearings, considers the evidence and makes the final decisions on the Council proposals.

Submissions can be made online at www.proposeddistrictplan.ccc.govt.nz or using the hard copy submission form included with the district plan review newsletter recently delivered to all households. The form can also be downloaded from the website. Submissions close on Friday 4 September. There will be an opportunity to make a further submission on those submissions from 18 September to 2 October 2015.

ENDS

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