Almost 200 responses have been received by the Southland District Council on the Te Anau Discussion Document, regarding possible changes for the basin in the Southland District Plan.
Council resource management manager Bruce Halligan said the document was circulated last month to all ratepayers in the Te Anau basin, for input on what changes, if any, they would like in the township.
"Council and the Te Anau Community Board wanted to obtain community feedback on a range of possible district plan changes through this document before any decisions are made whether to proceed further with any or all of them," Mr Halligan said.
Comment closed on Friday.
The reaction received had shown support for some elements of the possible changes, but one which had drawn strong opposition was the possible expansion of the existing Scenic Resource Area, Mr Halligan said.
The possible change was based on concerns about potential impacts of development on key landscapes and the desire expressed in the previous Fiordland concept plan process to retain key landscapes, free of intensive development.
Subsequently, a landscape consultant was engaged to assess the key landscapes in the area which may require greater protection.
While the intention was to discourage intensive development in the expanded Scenic Resource Area rather than prohibit development entirely, several affected landowners had expressed concern.
"The impact of the property rights of individuals within our district is always a matter which the council considers when contemplating any changes to the district plan.
"We will certainly be revisiting the areas identified by the landscape consultant for possible expansion of the Scenic Resource Area in order to see whether these require refinement and/or whether this possible change should proceed at all.
"It is neither the council nor the community board's desire to force unwanted changes on the community; and there may be refined and/or alternative planning approaches to achieve suitable protection of key landscapes," he said.
The possible changes outlined in the discussion document had been discussed and developed between the Te Anau Community Board and the council after concerns about the extent of development in the basin.
The response would now be analysed before the board and the council would discuss whether all, or any, of the possible changes would proceed.
