Setting the scene: district and regional plans
The RMA requires councils to create district and regional coastal plans that explain how the council will manage the environment. Plans will contain objectives, policies and rules set out to address resource management issues within the region or district over a 10-year period. One of the main methods used by councils is the use of rules that set out what activities you can do as of right (permitted activities), what activities you need resource consent for and how certain activities may be carried out.
A district plan is created by a city or a district council. It concerns the management of land-use and subdivision in a city or district. District plan rules cover things such as noise and the location and height of buildings.
A regional plan is created by a regional council. Regional councils must prepare regional coastal plans and may prepare plans for other issues that affect air, water or land. Regional plan rules cover things such as the construction of jetties, and the discharge of wastewater from a factory into a waterway.
Once operative, both district and regional plans have a life of 10 years. The council must start to review its plan no later than 10 years after it became operative. However, plans are often changed during the 10-year period. The RMA sets out a process for preparing or changing a plan. This process provides for public input. Participating in developing district and regional plans provides the best way for you to influence the future of your environment.
A proposed plan, plan change or variation is a document that has been issued by the council and 'proposed' as the official position of the council. To be legally proposed, a document must be publicly notified so people can make submissions.
Plan changes and variations
A plan change is when a council makes a change to an existing plan that is already being used. A plan variation is when a council makes a change to a plan that is still in the 'proposed stage' and has yet to be finalised. There will be fewer plan variations as more and more councils have 'operative' plans. But there will be more plan changes as councils begin to review their plans.
Councils decide when to make plan changes or variations to proposed plans, and individual people can also request that the council makes a plan change to its operative plan.
You can make a written submission about any proposed plan, plan change or variation that has been publicly notified if you think it will it affect you in some way, provided you do so within the time limit specified by the council. You don't have to be an expert but you should know what is relevant for the council to consider and what is not.
