Ashburton District Planning

Ashburton District is experiencing healthy growth and the Planning Team is here to help promote the best management of our environment and to ensure that the District remains a great place to live, work and play.

We use the Resource Management Act 1991 (“The RMA”) as a guiding document to help us in our work. Learn more about the RMA.

District Plans are required to be reviewed every ten years and between this time Council or members of the public can request a “plan change” to alter the operative plan in some way. Over the life of the plan the Council has accepted a number of plan changes, including changes to the North East Business Park.

NOTE: Planning FAQ's are currently being amended as a result of the Change in the District Plan weighting and are currently unavailable. These will be updated as soon as possible.

What is the District Plan?

Council is required to prepare a District Plan under the RMA. This important document provides direction for the sustainable management of the District’s natural and physical resources.

Council officers consult the District Plan as part of the Building Consent process and the zoning of a property and any relevant planning records are identified when a Land Information Memorandum (LIM) is applied for.

In 2007, the Council began work on a new District Plan. The draft plan was notified in April 2010 and decisions on the submissions received are expected at  the end of 2012. You can find out more about the District Plan review by clicking here.

Resource Consents

Resource consent is Council’s written authority allowing you to carry out an activity that will have an effect on the environment. 

Click here for more information of resource consents. You will also find forms and guides for use during the process of applying for resource consent and information about what you need to know if you are affected by a proposal for development.

The resource consent section will also help you to find out about applications for resource consent that are available for the general public to comment on (what are known as Notified Resource consents). 

What else does Planning do?

The Planning Department of the Council is also responsible for -