Ashburton District Council would like to announce that its review of the District Plan has commenced. This is in accordance with Section 79 of the Resource Management Act, it is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Ashburton District Plan.

ASHBURTON DISTRICT PLAN REVIEW

PUBLIC OPEN DAYS

Ashburton District Council is currently reviewing its District Plan and would like to hear your views on the key issues in the District and how we can address these through the District Plan.

Public Open Days are being held throughout Ashburton District in July, August and September which will provide you with an opportunity to speak with Councillors along with the Councils’ Planning Staff and consultants. By attending one or more of the Open Days we can consider your views in the review of the District Plan.

Each open day will be tailored to the area in which it is being held, for example Mayfield will focus on changes to the planning maps and the District Plan rules that will affect Mayfield and its immediate surrounds only. For the final open day in Ashburton all the proposed changes to the District Plan and maps will be on display. Please come along and influence the future of the district.

Community Open Days will be held at the following venues -

Wednesday 29 July	Methven Methven Rugby Rooms	3pm – 7pm
Wednesday 5 August	Rakaia Rakaia Community Centre	3pm – 7pm
Thursday 13 August	Hinds Hinds Community Centre	3pm – 7pm
Thursday 20 August	Mayfield Mayfield Hall	3pm – 7pm
Wednesday 26 August	Barrhill/Lauriston Barrhill Hall	3pm – 7pm
Wednesday 2 September	Mt Somers Mt Somers Hall	3pm – 7pm
Friday 11 September	Hut settlements Masonic Lodge, Ashburton	3pm – 7pm
Wednesday 16 September	Chertsey/Fairton Chertsey Hall	3pm – 7pm
Thursday 24 September	Ashburton Masonic Lodge	3pm – 7pm

You can also provide us with your views in writing by completing a Feedback form available by clicking on the link on the top right of this page (feedback form).

BACKGROUND

The District Plan addresses issues and effects arising from land use and development through setting objectives of what the Council is going to achieve, together with policies, rules and other methods for achieving the objectives. Rules in the District Plan identify activities that are not permitted by the District Plan and that require Resource Consent.

The Council began its review of the District Plan in 2007, and Councillors have been developing draft policies in consultation with Iwi and key-stakeholders. One of the key areas being considered in the review is whether the District Plan is still relevant to the issues of today and the future. 

In 2008 workshops were held to hear the view of key stakeholders and to identify issues that the District Plan needed to address. Public meetings were also held in Ashburton, Methven and Rakaia during April 2008 as well as other meetings with members of the public.

Since the end of 2008, draft chapters of the District Plan have been prepared incorporating the views of Councillors, key stakeholders and the wider public. This year a number of workshops have been held with Councillors to improve the draft plan chapters and we now want you to give us your views.

Come to one or more of the Open Days over July, August and September to tell us what you think the District should be like in the future and what we should be addressing in the District Plan.

Following the Open Days we will consider your views in making changes to the Draft District Plan, which will then be ready for public notification next year when you will have the opportunity to make submissions on the District Plan. This will be followed by public hearings before the Council can make decisions on the final content of the District Plan.

We encourage you to get involved early so we can address your concerns now.

Please feel free to contact us to discuss any issues that affect you and that we can address in the District Plan or if you want to add your details to our database for future consultation on the District Plan.

Consultants:- Claire Kelly

                        Phone: 03 353 7561

                        Email: Claire.kelly@boffamiskell.co.nz

                        PO Box 110

                        Christchurch 8140

Ashburton  District Council:-
                        Mark Stevenson, Senior District Planner
                        Phone: 03 307 7750

                        Email: marks@ashburtondc.govt.nz