Figure: Council plan preparation and plan change process

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This image depicts the process local government councils follow to create new plans or make changes to existing plans under the Resource Management Act 1991.

In Step 1, the Council identifies that a new plan is needed, or change is needed to an existing plan.

Step 2 involves consultation with stakeholders.

In Step 3, the Council notifies affected parties directly and the general public through newspaper advertisements, to let them know that a new plan or plan change is proposed, and inviting submissions.

Step 4 gives people the opportunity to make submissions on the proposals  (20 working days for plan changes, 40 working days for new plans) .

In Step 5, the Council analyses all submissions received, and a summary is provided .

Step 6 allows for 20 working days for further submissions, based on the summary.   

In Step 7, the Council produces its report and a public hearing is held to give submitters the opportunity to make oral presentations to the Council committee.

In Step 8, the Council releases its decision to either decline or approve the new plan or proposed changes.  Reasons for the decision must be provided, and the public and all submitters are notified.

The penultimate step is a 30 day period where submitters can lodge an appeal if they disagree with the decision.

The last Step is when the new plan or the plan change becomes operative.

A maximum of two years is allowed between Step 3, when a Council notifies the proposal to create a new plan or make changes to an existing plan, and Step 8, when the decision is notified.