What is the district plan ?
The Porirua City District Plan is a document that provides for change, development and use of the environment, while protecting and safeguarding it for future generations. It sets a framework of rights to using the environment and imposes obligations to protect it. Council is required to prepare such a Plan by the Resource Management Act.
What is a plan change ?
Anyone can propose an amendment to the district plan or the change may be initiated by Council. Council may then accept and publicly notify the proposed change and seek public consultation. This is generally the first time that the public are made aware of the proposed change and have an opportunity to address it.
Why do we have proposed plan changes ?
The district plan was written in 1999 and has had a surprisingly low number of amendments compared to other districts. This is largely because the plan was well written and addresses most of the issues that affect the local community. However, times change and new, unforeseen resource usage proposals threaten the environment the district plan is intended to protect.
Previously, proposed changes to the current district plan have been lodged by developers looking to alter the revenue potential of their land or allow for a change in use which would otherwise be disallowed by the district plan. More recently, proposed plan changes initiated by Porirua City Council have been proactive in introducing controls that aim to reduce the potential impact of anticipated localised development in the area.
Public consultation through submissions is your opportunity to shape the changes that affect current and future development activity in Pauatahanui.