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, New Zealand Institute of Management

Profile

Craig's experience in planning spans 23 years. He has worked in the Bay of Plenty sub-region for the last 16 years and has been directly involved in issues arising from its rapid growth and development. He was the Group Manager of the Environmental Services Group within Tauranga District Council from 1995 until 2001. Craig played a key management role in the SmartGrowth project, a collaborative exercise between the councils in the Western Bay of Plenty, Tangata Whenua, and the community. The project involved technical direction on a wide range of research and policy development associated with urban and rural growth. Craig has played a key role in major urban development planning projects. 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 and industrial land development.

Expertise

Growth management strategies

Co-ordinating research and regional resource assessments, option development and evaluation, consultation strategies, information management, policy development and implementation programming.

Services planning and funding

Advising on long term servicing strategies and funding approaches, including policy development under the Resource Management Act and Local Government Act.

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, consultation and assisting with public hearings.

Plan administration

Providing advice on the implementation of district plans, regional plans and the Resource Management Act 1991.

Regulatory reviews

Monitoring and analysing proposed changes to legislation and government policies

Resource consents & assessments of effects on the environment

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

Local authority management

Advising on the integration of local authority environmental management functions.

Land hazard management

Advising on integrated management of land hazards including risk assessment, policy responses and day to day management.