Tauranga

Craig Batchelar

Director & Planner

Education

Bachelor of Regional Planning (1st Class Honours), Massey University, NZ
Advanced Executive Programme, New Zealand Institute of Management
Master Planning Communities Harvard University, Massachusetts, USA

Professional Affiliations

Member, New Zealand Planning Institute
Member, Resource Management Law Association
Member, New Zealand Institute of Management

Profile

Craig has experience in planning spanning 25 years. He has worked in the Bay of Plenty sub-region for the last 20 years and has been directly involved in issues arising from rapid growth and development in this area. Craig has played a key role in major planning and development projects relating to urban development. His experience spans community, residential and business development issues.

Craig has depth of experience in both policy development and implementation under the Resource Management Act, the Local Government Act and other planning legislation. He has a special interest in infrastructure planning including funding through development contributions. Craig is an experienced expert witness, having presented evidence at the Environment Court on many occasions, most recently in relation to coastal hazard management, comprehensive residential development and industrial land development.

Expertise

Growth management strategies

Base research on growth drivers and regional resource assessments, option development and evaluation, communication and consultation strategies, information management, policy development and implementation programme development.

Services planning and funding

Development of long term servicing strategies and funding approaches, including policy development under the RMA and LGA.

Statutory planning and policy development

Analysing issues and developing objectives and policies for Plan changes, review and formulation of District and Regional Plans. Co-ordinating public information, community consultation and assisting with public hearings. Submissions on proposed plans and plan changes.

Plan administration

Providing advice on the implementation of District Plans, Regional Plans and the Resource Management Act.

Regulatory reviews

Monitoring and analysis of proposed changes to legislation and government policies.

Assessment of effects on the environment

Managing and co-ordinating assessments of environmental effects for multidisciplinary projects. Scoping and evaluating effects of projects, advising on siting, design and mitigation, and undertaking consultation for resource consents and other projects.

Resource consents

Preparing resource consent applications for projects, including assessment of effects and advice on mitigation, analysis of plan provisions, consultation with consent authorities and affected parties, processing applications, presenting evidence to Council or Environment Court hearings.