Pukehāngi Heights plan change approved by Minister
Working through the Minister is a new process that cuts down on the amount of time it would normally take to do a traditional plan change. The Streamlined Plan Change Process enables the Minister to approve a shortened but equally robust process in a limited range of circumstances - including where a proposal addresses a national direction, in this case housing, or a significant community need.
Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick said the Minister's decision was good news that would enable progress towards much-needed housing for the city.
The Pukehāngi proposals are significant developments that will contribute to addressing the district's critical housing shortage, she said.
We won't see houses going up overnight but the decision is a significant step forward in terms of enabling these developments to progress, and much more quickly than may have been the case under a normal plan change which can see years added to the process if there are appeals.
Council can now work with the respective developers to progress required consenting and stormwater management processes. We are committed to working in partnership with developers to get building underway as quickly as possible, Mayor Chadwick said.
Since the use of the Streamlined Process was approved by the Minister in January last year, Council has worked through two rounds of public submissions, followed by a hearing, and then the commissioners' recommendations to the Minister.
Now that the Plan Change for rezoning has been approved, Council will be working with all the landowners on the next steps towards progressing residential development, including the development of a stormwater management plan. Discharge and stormwater consents are also required before development can occur.
Guiding the development of any future subdivisions within Pukehāngi Heights are six general principles that were established as part of the plan change. Those principles also address a number of the concerns raised during the submission periods. They include the recognition, protection and expression of cultural and archaeological values of the area, low impact stormwater management and excellent urban design outcomes.
As part of the process Council engaged with tangata whenua, Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the wider Rotorua community.
Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tuarā have been actively involved in this plan change along with Te Komiti Nui o Ngāti Whakaue and Te Arawa Lakes Trust, says Robyn Bargh, Chairperson of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tuara.
We look forward to continuing to work with Council and land owners to ensure the cultural history of the Pukehāngi area is recognised in future development, cultural sites are protected and to ensure future development does not impact on water quality in the Mangakakahi and Utuhina streams or lead to further degradation of Lake Rotorua.
Rotorua Lakes Council is working across the district to support residential development to address the current housing shortage. Investing in infrastructure, partnering with Government and using the Streamlined Plan Change Process are all part of the wider Housing Strategy that aims to unlock land and enable developers.
More information about District Plan Change 2 - Pukehāngi Heights
- Get the full background at https://letstalk.rotorualakescouncil.nz/District-Plan-Plan-Change-2-Pukehangi-Heights
- Read the plan change proposal including the full list of the general principals here
- Check out the Pukehāngi Heights structure plan map here
- Letter from Minister for the Environment Hon. David Parker here