Flexibility in harbour plan

The Otago Regional Council could go ahead with changes to its coastal plan which would enable people to do more in the Steamer Basin area of Otago Harbour even if the Dunedin City Council does not approve its harbourside plan changes, councillors were told yesterday.

At a policy and resource planning committee meeting, councillors considered hearing panel recommendations on the proposed Otago Regional Plan: Coast: plan change 1 (harbourside).

The plan change was sought by the Dunedin City Council to accommodate its plans to redevelop Dunedin's harbourside area.

A public consultation process for the coast plan change and the city council's district plan change, to allow for the harbourside proposal, were heard together last July.

Resource and planning director Fraser McRae said the plan change would enable people to do more inside the Steamer Basin area.

It meant there would be clear directions on the provision of things like pontoons, information kiosks, signage and boat ramps.

Chairman Stephen Cairns said the city council's harbourside concept could become a victim of financial constraints, which would leave the regional council with a redundant plan change.

Mr McRae said the regional council could stop the plan change process at any time.

Mr Cairns said there were worthwhile initiatives in the plan change, so if the city council did not take it any further, issues could still be pursued.

The regional council's plan change would be considered by the full council at a meeting next month and if approved, was then open to appeal to the Environment Court.

It then had to be approved by the Conservation Minister.

A decision on the city council's district plan change, harbourside was expected before February 14.

 

 

 

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