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Proposed District Plan November 2001

Proposed District Plan cover 

Right now Hamilton is in the process of reviewing its District Plan.

Over the past 10 years, since our current District Plan was created, Hamilton has seen some big changes and the way we have come to think about what we want to happen in our city has changed a lot in that time too. So it is important that we work together now to develop a new plan to prepare ourselves for the future.

To find out more about the review go to www.fastforwardhamilton.co.nz

What is the Proposed District Plan?

Council is required to prepare a District Plan under the Resource Management Act 1991. The Hamilton City Proposed District Plan contains the policies and strategy for managing natural and physical resources in Hamilton.

The Proposed District Plan comprises one volume of objectives, policies, and rules and one volume of maps. The maps specify the areas within the city where the particular policies and rules apply.

The objectives contained within the Proposed District Plan specify our intention to protect and improve Hamilton's environment. The policies set out how we plan to get there, and the rules indicate whether a resource consent is needed for certain activities.

  • What is the Plan?
  • Variations
  • Structure Plans
  • Strategic Agreement
  • Development and Financial Contributions
  • Designations
     

What is the status of the Proposed District Plan?

On 31 October 1999, Hamilton City Council publicly notified its Proposed District Plan. A wide range of submissions were received regarding the Plan. Council completed hearing these submission and publicly notified its decisions on the submissions on 27 October 2001. Fifty-seven appeals regarding Council's decisions on submissions were lodged with the Environment Court. The majority of these appeals have since been fully resolved.

Council staff are currently working towards resolution of the outstanding appeals. Once these remaining appeals have been resolved, Council will publicly notify the date on which the Proposed Plan shall become operative. From that date onward, the Plan will be known was the Hamilton City District Plan.

 

What about the old District Scheme?

When the RMA was introduced in 1991, the City of Hamilton Town Plan became our Transitional District Plan. Until all of the references to the Proposed District Plan have been resolved, both the Transitional District Plan and the Proposed District Plan should be read in conjunction.
It should be noted that as the Proposed District Plan has matured quite substantially through the legal process, it will be given more weight than the Transitional District Plan in most situations. A copy of the Transitional District Plan can be viewed at the Council Municipal Offices in Garden Place.

 

If you've any questions about the Proposed District Plan:

Phone 838 6810 and ask to speak to a planner, or email us:

Will the District Plan change over time?

The Proposed District Plan will continually be amended as a result of variations, designations, and the resolution of appeals on the Plan to the Environment Court.

Council has a statutory obligation to monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of its Proposed District Plan and must take action to address any issues as they arise. This is achieved through a Variation which can be anything from a tidy up of miscellaneous issues, to a Variation incorporating a Structure Plan for a major growth area into the Proposed District Plan.

The RMA requires that Variations be publicly notified. Any person may make a submission to a Proposed Variation.

When all appeals to the Proposed District Plan have been resolved, any amendments will be addressed through a formal Plan Change.

How is Council planning for growth in Hamilton?

Hamilton Urban Growth Strategy

Council is currently developing the Hamilton Urban Growth Strategy, this document will guide how the city manages growth into the future. Click on the link below for more information.

Structure plans

A Structure Plan is a plan that sets out the development concept for long term growth in an area. Structure Plans are developed for all areas within the City zoned future urban (predominately rural land), before they are made available for urban development. Structure Plans also illustrate the likely extent of future infrastructure provision within a growth area.

The three main growth areas within Hamilton are Rototuna, Rotokauri and Peacockes:

Strategic Agreement

The Strategic Agreement on Future Urban Boundaries between Waikato District and Hamilton City identifies the areas for long term expansion of the City, provides a basis for future planning by the City and District, and informs communities and the wider market of the agreed intentions of both Councils.

Development and Financial Contributions

Council first introduced a Development and Financial Contributions Policy in its 2005/06 Annual Plan. It required developers to fund the growth component of capital expenditure on new infrastructure and facilities. The policy was reviewed as part of the 2006-16 Long-Term Plan and the 2007/08 and 2008/09 Annual Plans.

Designations

The Resource Management Act 1991 provides the ability to designate land for public works. A designation is a provision made in a district plan to give effect to a requirement made by a requiring authority under section 168, 168A or clause 4 of the First Schedule. A requiring authority could be a Minister of the Crown, a local authority or a network utility operator that has been approved under section 167.

Notices of Requirement ready for hearing:

The Cobham Drive Substation Notice of Requirement will be heard in early February 2010, for more information please click on the link below:

Notices of Requirement under appeal:

Confirmed Designations:

Get a copy of the plan

Hard copies of the Proposed District Plan are available for viewing at the Council Offices in Garden Place, as well as at all Hamilton City Community Libraries.

Hard copies are also available for purchase at the Council Offices in Garden Place.

Contact


 
 
 
 
 
 
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City Planning Unit
Level 2, Council Offices
Garden Place
Hamilton City Council
Private Bag 3010
Hamilton 3240
Phone: 838 6810
Fax: 838 6464