High Level of Interest in Horowhenua's Proposed Plan Change

Friday, 13 November 2009

Submissions to a controversial Plan Change which could see tighter restrictions for wind farm development on the Tararua Ranges and existing land use rights challenged received more than 100 submissions by its closing date last Friday.

Plan Change 22 sought to identify and protect the outstanding natural features and landscapes, as well as high amenity landscapes, within the Horowhenua District. These include coastal foredunes, lakes, mountains and foothills, and margins around waterways.

The Council engaged a landscape architect to undertake the assessment within the context of the Resource Management Act and from this the plan change was developed proposing restrictions for new buildings, network utilities and earthworks in the identified areas.

District Plan Review project manager David McCorkindale said he was pleased with the level of engagement to this plan change, which received 116 submissions, citing two previous plan changes for rural subdivision and greenbelt areas for urban subdivision receiving 62 and 92 submissions respectively.

"People have recognised the likes of Lake Horowhenua and the Tararua Ranges as areas that make this district special and are very supportive of these areas being protected," he said.

"On the other hand there are farmers who are saying Council is taking away their property rights and that the proposed changes will make it impossible to continue farming the land."

A wide range of submissions had been received from power companies, farmers and their advocacy group, Government departments such as the Department of Conservation, and individuals.

"It is common knowledge that there will always be a higher level of opposition than support for items being consulted on. Neighbouring councils are keeping a watching brief particularly with the huge interest in wind farms in this area over the last few years."

Mr McCorkindale said the next step is to go through the submissions, prepare a summary of all of them and after this, publicly notified for further submissions to be made.