The management of natural and built resources
North Shore City Council's District Plan has information about how we manage our natural and built or physical resources, and how we enable or restrict the way land is used or developed in our city.
The District Plan is a legal document that we are required to prepare under the Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991. It became operative in part on 28 June 2002.
The District Plan consists primarily of Text and Maps (please see links to the right). However, it is important to note that the District Plan is at all times subject to change. Please take care to check if the land, locality or rule you are concerned with is subject to any form of ‘Modification’ (see link on the right-hand menu).
Further parts and provisions have become operative since 28 June 2002. You can view the relevant approval and operative status documents via ‘useful links’ at the end of this document. The parts that remain outstanding (not operative) are listed in Schedule A: Schedule of outstanding matters under ‘Exclusions’(see link on the right-hand menu).
What is the District Plan?
The District Plan identifies our objectives for looking after and improving the environment, particularly its natural and physical resources, and our policies and rules for achieving the objectives. The rules give ‘teeth’ to the objectives and policies, and point out whether you need a resource consent for certain types of activities, uses or buildings.
Why did the District Plan become operative in part?
'Operative in part' is the status that the Environment Court and the council give a District Plan when most of it is finalised. Achieving operative status for most of the Plan simplifies its administration, as it negates the effect of former operative and proposed plans.
The 2002 Plan was first proposed in 1994 and after a long period involving submissions, hearings, appeals and Environment Court hearings and decisions it is now operative in part. We are working through the parts that are the subject of outstanding issues. See 'Exclusions' for more information.
Why the new format and colour maps?
To mark the change (in 2002) from a proposed District Plan to an operative District Plan, we reproduced the text in a new format and added colour to the maps to modernise it and make it easier to follow and understand. The parts of the plan which are not operative are highlighted in the text and on the maps.
What about the old District Schemes?
When the RMA was introduced we had five District Schemes, one for each of our five former district and borough councils under the then Town & Country Planning Act 1977. The five councils amalgamated in 1989 into North Shore City Council and the schemes collectively became our transitional District Plan. Making the District Plan operative in part means that the transitional District Plan does not need to be referred to in most situations except for those parts of the District Plan that are not operative.
Will the operative District Plan be changed?
We will initiate plan changes from time to time to address key issues and designating authorities will, from time to time, give notice of requirements (for specific land and activities). People can also request private plan changes. We review these applications against specific criteria in the RMA to determine whether we should start the process of changing our District Plan.
If they meet the criteria, we follow the same steps of notification, submissions, hearings and appeals as with plan changes we initiate. The difference between the two types of plan changes is that private plan changes do not have any status or effect until they have been upheld following the formal submissions and decision-making process. See 'Modifications' for more information.
Where can I get more information?
Printed copies of the District Plan are available for viewing at North Shore City council offices and public libraries.
You can purchase your own copy of the text and maps, and receive regular updates, by contacting our Strategy and Policy Division’s Environmental Administration Officer via Actionline, phone (09) 486 8600 or email actionline@northshorecity.govt.nz.
| This electronic version of the District Plan is not intended to be a substitute for the printed version of North Shore City's District Plan, published by North Shore City Council, June 2002. North Shore City Council cannot guarantee that the way your computer views or prints the District Plan will be consistent with the published District Plan. The contents of the District Plan are subject to review and may change from time to time. Please refer to the published document to confirm any information or contact an environmental policy advisor. |
Top of page