Plan Change 82 - 91

Council publicly notified Plan Changes 82-91 on 31 August 2019. Plan Changes are a formal proposal to change the District Plan in order to solve resource management issues facing the District.

Summary of the changes

A brief summary of each Plan Change is below:

Plan Change 82 - Post Harvest Zone – Review of Provisions

To help owners of large packhouse and coolstore facilities manage their operations in line with the growth of the horticultural sector. It includes expansions of some existing Post Harvest Zones, makes some provision for increasing the maximum height for buildings and includes minor edits to other rules.

Plan Change 83 – Accommodation Facility Permitted Limit

Accommodation facilities (for four people or fewer) are permitted in many zones including rural and residential. This Plan Change proposes to increase the permitted number of people from four to five to align with the Building Act.

Plan Change 84 - Public Trails (Walkways, Cycleways, Bridleways and Similar)

This provides an easier District Plan rule framework for the construction of a variety of trails while still ensuring the best environmental outcome. The current requirement for resource consenting on all trail projects adds a layer of time and cost that has little benefit to the environment or the project.

Plan Change 85 - Cleanfill Activities in Rural, Future Urban, Lifestyle and Rural-Residential Zones

Large scale cleanfill activities in rural areas are causing concerns for the community due to heavy vehicle traffic, noise, dust, vibration, loss of visual amenity, property damage and safety of access. This change looks at altering the rules so that impacts on neighbours can be better managed.

Plan Change 86 - Floodable and Coastal Inundation Areas – Maintenance of Stopbanks and Drains

This clarifies that resource consent is not required for earthworks within floodable and coastal inundation areas if being carried out for the purpose of maintaining flood control assets (e.g. clearing drains) by either Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council or the Waihi Drainage Society.

Plan Change 87 - Frost Protection Fans

Changes are proposed to better provide for the operation of frost fans in rural areas, while still managing potential effects on surrounding neighbours.

Plan Change 88 - Noise Standards Within Industrial Zones

Currently, there are no rules to limit the amount of noise received by properties within the Industrial Zone (i.e. from one industrial property to another). We are looking to address this issue.

Plan Change 89 - Rural Contractors Depots – Separation Distances

New rural contractors depots are required to be set back at least 60m from existing habitable buildings. There are similar requirements for new habitable buildings to be set back from exiting rural contractors depots. This Plan Change is to clarify that a depot (for the purpose of determining these setback distances) includes its vehicle accessways, manoeuvring and parking areas.

Plan Change 90 - Home Enterprises – Sale of Goods

The performance standard relating to the sale of goods from home enterprises causes confusion and we are proposing to amend it to clarify that goods manufactured off-site and sold via the internet can be stored on, and distributed from, the site of the ‘Home Enterprise’.

Plan Change 91 - Rangiuru Business Park – Water Supply Option

This proposes a third water supply option for the Rangiuru Business Park, being water supply from an existing bore at Pongakawa.