For the 2023/24 financial year (starting in July 2023) the council is making a one-off rates remission (reduction) of up to $500 available for households facing a rates rise higher than $700.
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In This Section
Proposed Plan Change 30 – Designations, Proposed Plan Change 31 – Protected Trees and Proposed Plan Change 32 – Verandah Posts became operative on Thursday, 18 September 2014.
The Resource Management Act (RMA) gives Ministers, regional authorities or network utility operators (known as Requiring Authorities) the ability to designate pieces of land for public works. These designations restrict other activities from operating on the site and allow the works to operate outside the District Plan rules. The designations are shown on the District Plan maps and listed in Appendix C. Plan Change 30 involves updating the Designations Schedule in Appendix C to give effect to the changes sought by Requiring Authorities. The changes include the removal of designations no longer used, alteration of existing designations and the addition of new designations.
Appendix 4 - Public Notice(PDF, 12KB)
Summary of Submissions for Plan Change 30 - Designations and Plan Change 31 - Protected Trees(PDF, 28KB)
The following maps are proposed to be amended:
The District Plan contains a list of protected trees and the Council has completed a review of their value to the community in 2013. They were last assessed in 1993 and the Plan provisions have not been updated since 2004. STEM (Standard Tree Evaluation Method) is the nationally preferred method of tree evaluation. It assesses the trees on condition, amenity and notability (which includes heritage). Plan Change 31 seeks to update the existing 110 trees listed in the District Plan. The objectives, policies and rules for protected trees are revised to define why a tree is protected, what work can be done on a tree as of right and how the Council should deal with trees that are at the end of their life.
Appendix 7 – Section 32 Report(PDF, 486KB)
Summary of submissions for Plan Change 30 - Designations and Plan Change 31 - Protected Trees(PDF, 28KB)
STEM assessments
The Council has reviewed the District Plan provisions for erection of supporting verandah posts in commercial zones. The Plan change seeks to amend rules in the Plan regarding the use of posts to support verandahs on commercial buildings and provide for them as a permitted activity.
Proposed Plan Change Text and Section 32 Report(PDF, 36KB)