Dunedin City Council's 2GP district plan hearings began yesterday, with minor controversies surrounding designations providing a taste of things to come.
With councillors preoccupied by the city's annual plan deliberations, the hearing panel's two independent commissioners heard submissions at the 2GP Hearings Centre, in George St.
About a dozen submitters spoke on designations.
Designations are a form of spot zoning over a site, area or route, such as railway lines, in a district plan.
The zoning allows ministers of the Crown, local authorities and network utility operators to work on and use the area without the need for land-use consent.
The topic was mostly uncontroversial with most submitters taking only minutes to speak to their submissions and answer questions.
However, a group of Mosgiel residents was concerned about KiwiRail's use of its designation at the intersection of Gladstone and Gladfield Rds.
Gladstone Rd resident David Johnston said KiwiRail's use of the site was unsightly and its loading of ballast on Sundays inconvenienced residents.
He described the area as "part sawmill, part junkyard''.
"I'm not sure what you'd describe as the activity but it's not a railway,'' he said.
Workers at the ballast site loaded the train on Sundays, causing excessive noise, but it then sat idle until it was next required, he said.
"I cannot see any reason why it needs to occur on a Sunday,'' he said.
"The ballast comes in by truck, gets stockpiled and then gets loaded on to a train specifically designed for loading ballast.
"Personally, I think it's the principle of it operating on a Sunday. I can't see why it can't be loaded during the week and, if needed, taken on the Sunday.''
Other residents lodged similar complaints about KiwiRail's use of the site on weekends.
Commissioners David Collins and Gary Rae said they understood the submitters' point.
"That's food for thought,'' Mr Collins said.
In its submission KiwiRail said it was willing to try to accommodate and work with residents.
Other subjects to come, such as residential zoning, natural hazards and transportation, are expected to generate greater controversy.
Mayor Dave Cull opened the hearings.
"The district plan is one of the most important documents a council produces - its ultimate goal is for the sustainable management of Dunedin's natural and physical resources, both now and into the future,'' he said.
"Indeed our ultimate goal ought to be achieving a sustainable community in all senses of the word.
"It aims to encourage appropriate development in the right locations while protecting the features and amenities which our residents hold dear.''
The council had received 1500 submissions on the 2GP and more than 800 would speak to their submissions during the coming months, he said.
Councillors David Benson-Pope, Jinty MacTavish, Aaron Hawkins and Kate Wilson join the independent commissioners on the hearings panel.
The hearings continue today with the topic of hazard mitigation and scheduled trees will be heard on May 26-27.
The hearings are expected to finish in late February with urban land supply.
