The Waitaki district plan - the document which tells people what they can do on the land and where - is up for review and the Waitaki District Council tomorrow will decide how the costly process will be done.
The plan under which the council operates was drafted in 1996, and took eight years going through the Resource Management Act process before it was operative, or fully implemented.
Since then, there have been changes to the plan, but now that it is10 years since it became operative, the council is legally required to carry out a full review.
Tomorrow's decisions start the process.
It is not known at this stage how much it will cost, but it will be hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on how complicated the process becomes.
The plan must be reviewed, a draft produced and notified for public submissions.
After the first submissions close, there is another round of cross-submissions.
The council has to consider, and, if necessary, hear, the submissions before making final decisions.
After those have been released, the plan is then open to appeal to the Environment Court by submitters who are not satisfied.
Although unusual, it can be appealed to the High Court and higher, on points of law.
The council can also involve groups and stakeholders in the first stage of preparing the draft, in an attempt to resolve potential submissions or appeals.
How the submissions can be heard and who makes final decisions are other considerations.
Planning manager Peter Kloosterman has recommended the council. -
• Carry out a full review at once.
• Establish a district plan review subcommittee to help guide and oversee the review.
• Prepare a project plan for the review.
Membership of the subcommittee is proposed to be Cr Jim Hopkins (chairman), Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher and Crs Kathy Dennison, Peter Garvan, Bill Kingan, Hugh Perkins and June Slee.
