Featured projects
Combined Wairarapa District Plan
| LOCATION: | Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa Districts |
|---|---|
| CLIENT: | Masterton District Council, Carterton District Council, South Wairarapa District Council |
| CONTACT: | Robert Schofield Wellington |
| OUR ROLE: | Statutory planning under the Resource Management Act; policy development, consultation and advice on process. |
The Wairarapa Combined District Plan is the first plan under the Resource Management Act to be prepared jointly by neighbouring district councils, and is one of the first ‘second-generation’ plans under the Act. Boffa Miskell has guided much of the plan’s development.
The Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa District Councils decided to do a joint plan in 2003 and, in 2004, approached Boffa Miskell for assistance. Subsequently Boffa Miskell has provided the following services:
- Reviewed a partial draft, then rewrote and completed a preliminary Draft Plan for public comment.
- Assisted the Committee in hearing and deliberating on the comments received.
- Prepared and managed the production of the Proposed Plan, which was notified for public submissions in August 2006.
- Managed the public notification process and acted as Committee advisors at public meetings and submitters’ hearings.
- Provided coordination and liaison between the planning departments of each Council on plan implementation.
- Analysed and reported to the Hearings Committee on all the public submissions with recommendations on over 4,000 points that had to be addressed.
- Assisted in deliberations and decision preparation, including revision of the District Plan.
- Various miscellaneous roles such as preparation of media release, heritage guidelines, structure plans, and organising various technical assessments and reports.
Major issues included the management of rural subdivision, coastal development, energy and infrastructure issues, and the protection of indigenous biodiversity, and preservation of historic heritage values.
Boffa Miskell also prepared an Implementation Manual to guide the three councils in applying the plan provisions consistently in each of the three districts.
Decisions on the submissions were released on 29 March 2008. Boffa Miskell will continue to advise the three councils on implementing the combined plan and assisting with resolving appeals.
Awards
Nancy Northcroft Planning Practice Award, New Zealand Planning Institute, 2010
Others we worked with closely: Explorer Graphics (mapping), Kelly Transportation Consultants, Malcolm Hunt and Associates (noise), Simpson Grierson (legal).