Council planners renew focus on placemaking

Council planning staff will be refocusing efforts on place-based planning projects, such as the Kerikeri Waipapa Spatial Plan, once a significant phase of the District Plan process is completed this month.

That will see publication of a summary of decisions on 8553 requests made by submitters to alter the Proposed District Plan and signals an opportunity for the next round of consultation. This will be when the public can make further submissions either in support of, or in opposition to a request already made by a submitter. The Proposed District Plan was notified in July last year. The summary of decisions will be published on council’s website and printed versions will also be available for viewing at Kaikohe, Kerikeri and Kaitāia service centres.

Roger Ackers, Group Manager – Planning and Policy, says this new phase of the District Plan review process, combined with a realignment of planning staff, will enable planners to refocus efforts on long-term growth and place-based planning projects.

“Place-based projects, such as the Kerikeri Waipapa Spatial Plan, are hugely important for our communities because they provide more direction for how areas will grow and evolve long term. To reflect the importance of that work, we recently created an Integrated Planning Department. This brings together our existing District Plan Team with a new Growth Planning and Placemaking Team to ensure full integration of place-based planning projects.”

He explains that the District Plan Team is well-placed to contribute to long-term growth planning and place-based planning because of their in-depth knowledge of planning rules and of submissions made on the Proposed District Plan.

“While we are currently recruiting to fill some expertise gaps, I believe that the department is now better placed to deliver spatial plans, masterplans and placemaking plans across the entire district.”

He says these various plans are now being prioritised by the team (aligned with the District Plan), while also continuing place-based planning projects, such as the Kerikeri Waipapa Spatial Plan project. 

Mr Ackers thanked Te Pātukurea Hapū Rōpū, key stakeholders, staff and councillors for their contributions to date on the Kerikeri Waipapa Spatial Plan project, and for everyone’s input into the requirement for other place-based planning activities in the Far North.