11 September 2023
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Summerset retirement village development
Enquiry
Was wondering if someone could please tell me how the council is supporting Summerset in the Government’s Fast Track Consenting process? (What resources, is it advice etc - details of what this means)
How often does it help developers in this way?
Why is it doing it?
Any recent examples?
Response
From Rotorua Lakes Council Group Manager Community & District Development, Jean-Paul Gaston:
Rotorua Lakes Council has been working alongside Summerset retirement villages since early 2022 on their proposed retirement village, located at 171 Fairy Springs Road. RLC is not the decision maker in this instance, this role is carried out by an independent consenting panel appointed by the Minister for the Environment.
Council’s primary role in the Fast Track Planning process is to ensure that the proposed development is able to be adequately serviced with, water, wastewater and stormwater. We also need to be comfortable that all assets meet the required standard prior to being transferred to Council ownership.
Council is also supporting Summerset through the design phase of their application. Given that we have a good understanding of the site and its constraints we are able to advise and support on technical matters such as stormwater design, urban design, parks and reserves and roading etc.
We have established a working group with Summerset Retirement villages and their technical team, along with other critical development partners. This group will continue to meet every two weeks until the application is formally lodged for the final decision.
Rotorua Lakes Council established the Development Support Function in earlier 2021. The intent of the Development Support Function was to be more proactive in supporting developers (major developments) at the front end of the development process, prior to lodging resource (planning) consent.
We are now able to provide support to developers, major land owners and Iwi groups at the due diligence phase of a project, through the design phase right up until lodgement with Council’s Planning Consents team. Our approach to supporting developers is flexible and we tailor this to the needs of the developer and the type of development being considered.
We are starting to see the benefits of taking a more proactive approach to development with a significant number of large housing developments starting to move through the development pipeline and into the construction phase. This service is available to all developers with applications that exceed 20 houses or lots.