Introduction
The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) gives requiring authorities the ability to have areas of land designated for use as network utilities (such as roads and telecommunications facilities) or large public works (such as schools and reserves). Those areas of land are identified in the district plan, usually in the maps. This is called a 'designation' and it means that the works can be carried out without the subsequent need to comply with district plan rules.
If a requiring authority wishes to designate land, it must submit a notice of requirement to the council, in a similar manner to a resource consent application.
You can be involved in this process. This guide is written for people who wish to understand designations, and who may wish to be involved in the process of a designation being put in place. It tells you:
- who requiring authorities are
- what a designation is and who can designate land
- about the notice of requirement process and how you can be involved
- what happens while a notice of requirement is being processed
- what the outline plan process for carrying out the designated works is
- how a designation can be varied.
