23 September 2010
Waipa District Council will release an informal draft version of its District Plan in mid-October so Waipa residents and ratepayers have more time to understand any proposed changes and can provide Council with feedback.
The District Plan guides how land can be used within the Waipa district. Under the Resource Management Act, all Councils are required to have a District Plan and to regularly review it.
Waipa District Council’s strategy manager Gary Knighton said releasing an informal version of the District Plan is an important step and will assist in sorting out some issues before formal notification. In early 2011 a formal version of the Plan will be ready for consultation through a formal submission process.
Mr Knighton said Council had to decided to release a draft version of the Plan so that “residents have a good understanding of what the plan is, what changes are proposed, and how they or their business or property may be affected.”
“It also gives us the opportunity to discuss any issues or concerns with people and capture their feedback before we formally notify the plan next year.”
Mr Knighton said the District Plan had to align with the Waikato Regional Policy Statement managed by Environment Waikato.
“The Waikato Regional Policy Statement broadly outlines how resources are managed in the Waikato region. Under the Resource Management Act all District Plans, which are much more detailed, need to be consistent with their Regional Policy Statement,” Mr Knighton said.
He said Environment Waikato would be notifying a new Regional Policy Statement for consultation on November 3 this year.
“The release of the draft District Plan at the same time as the Regional Policy Statement means the Council and community can consider the links between the two. Council will also need to consider what view it takes on the Regional Policy Statement. It is important that this work is finalised before the Waipa District Plan is formally advertised.”
Further information on the plan will be available from mid-October. Landowners with properties affected by any proposed changes will also receive a letter explaining what the changes mean.
Copies of the draft Plan will be available on www.waipa2050.co.nz and in Council offices and libraries in Te Awamutu and Cambridge.
For more information, please contact:
Jeanette Tyrrell
Ph: 07 872 0097 or 027 293 8679
Email: jeanette.tyrrell@waipadc.govt.nz