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. This process involves writing a new District Plan that reflects how the Council wants to see the District used and developed over the next 10 years. 

In the coming months, the Council will sit down with key groups and organisations to get their views following which the District Plan will be formally consulted on for a period of at least 40 working days. This will provide the wider public with an opportunity to submit written comments (‘submissions’) in support or opposition to the District Plan.

The period for consultation has not been finalised but will be advertised in the newspaper, on the Council’s website and in other public places.

This will be followed by a second period of consultation when those representing an aspect of the public interest or any person having an interest greater than the public interest may make a further submission in support or opposition to submissions received. The submissions will then be heard by a Hearings Panel, following which decisions will be issued. 

BACKGROUND

The Council began its review of the District Plan in 2007. In 2008 workshops were held to hear the views of key stakeholders and to identify issues that the District Plan needed to address. In April 2008 public meetings were held in Ashburton, Methven and Rakaia 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 key stakeholders and the wider public.

In July, August and September of 2009 a series of public open days were held in towns and villages across the District providing an opportunity for the public to comment on draft zone boundaries and proposed changes to the District Plan for each of the zones.  

If you have any questions or would like to discuss any issues that may affect you or you want to add your details to our database for future consultation on the District Plan please contact -  

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

                                                                        Email: marks@ashburtondc.govt.nz

 Consultants for the Council:-                         Claire Kelly

                                                                        Phone: 03 353 7561

                                                                        Email: Claire.kelly@boffamiskell.co.nz

                                                                        PO Box 110

                                                                        Christchurch 8140