Proposed plan changes notified

Two question and answer sessions on four proposed plan changes to the Southland District Plan, relating to the Te Anau area, will be held in Te Anau in November. The proposed plan changes are being formally notified tomorrow (Saturday 17 October) by the Southland District Council.

Council resource management planner Luke McSoriley said the two sessions in Te Anau are to enable people to have any of their questions answered by Council staff.

The first session will be on Tuesday 3 November, from 4pm to 9pm, and the second the next day, Wednesday 4 November, from 10am to 1pm.

Mr McSoriley said three of these proposed changes are Council-initiated. The fourth proposed change has been initiated by private landowners who own land on the south-eastern periphery of Te Anau, which they are seeking to have rezoned under the District Plan.

The proposed changes follow on from the discussion document sent out to Te Anau ratepayers in June 2008, and previous public meetings held in Te Anau.

"Council received 244 responses to the proposals in that document and the three Council-proposed changes received a lot of support," Mr McSoriley said.

The first change seeks to expand the existing Urban Resource Area of Te Anau to incorporate recently consented residential developments currently sitting outside the present Urban Resource Area boundary. This will provide for future expansion near to the existing area.

The second proposed change seeks to expand the existing Industrial Resource Area and relates to an area east of the existing Industrial Resource Area. If approved, this will provide additional scope for future industrial expansion and will include a recently  consented industrial subdivision/ development. 

The third proposal relates to the creation of a proposed Lakeside Protection Area, which seeks to strengthen the height provisions in the current District Plan in relation to land close to the Lake Te Anau foreshore. Currently, the maximum height limit in the Urban Resource Area is 12 metres, but resource consent can potentially be sought and obtained for buildings higher than that.

"The proposed change would prohibit buildings and structures in excess of the 12 metre maximum, thereby sending a strong message that the community wishes to see development maintained at a maximum height of 12 metres beside the lake," Mr McSoriley said.

Council staff have prepared three reports which consider the alternatives, benefits and costs of undertaking each of the proposed Council-initiated plan changes, which are available on the Council's website and at the Council's Te Anau Area Office, 116 Town Centre Te Anau.

The private plan change seeks to rezone 120 hectares of land owned by T E and A Buchanan from its current zoning of Plains Rural Resource Area  to Te Anau Residential B Resource Area, with two associated Scenic Protection Zones (the portions of the property closest to State Highway 94) to facilitate future residential development in this locality. The documentation related to this private Plan Change proposal is also available on the Council's website

The proposed changes have been approved for notification by Council's Resource Management Committee. They are available by clicking here.

Any party is able to submit in relation to these changes and be heard by Council if they wish to do so. Submissions close on 23 November .