Proposed District Plan timeline

The current District Plan review process was initiated in 2016. A key part of that review process was undertaken in 2022 when we formally notified the Proposed District Plan and called for submissions. We received 580 submissions that raised thousands of requests to be considered.

We then provided an opportunity for landowners, tangata whenua, the wider community, and stakeholders to tell us whether they support or oppose what was requested in those original submissions. We still have several steps to complete before adopting a new District Plan. These are shown below.

Anyone who has made a submission or a further submission, can participate in hearings where they have indicated they wish to be heard. These submitters also have the right to appeal to the Environment Court if they disagree with the council’s final decision.

What happens next?

Staff and consultants will prepare reports that include:

• an analysis of original and further submissions
• recommendations on which parts of the Proposed District Plan should be adopted, removed or modified.

Hearings and pre-hearings

Council may arrange pre-hearing meetings on specific topics.

Public hearings for submitters who wish to be heard will take place throughout 2024/2025.

• The hearings panel will hear all submissions and any further evidence presented at a hearing.
• The hearings panel will then make recommendations to the council on the Proposed District Plan including its reasons for accepting or rejecting submissions.

Decisions on the PDP

In 2025 the council will give notice of its decisions on the Proposed District Plan based on the recommendations of the hearings panel.

• Submitters have the option to appeal decisions to the Environment Court.
• The plan will then be adopted, except any parts of the plan subject to an ongoing appeal.
• The final District Plan will not be fully operative until all appeals relating to it have been resolved.