PART7DESIGNATIONS»
UsingPart7
DesignationsareshownintheUnitaryPlanas:
Ascheduleforeachrequiringauthoritywhichsummarisesthedesignationsandnoticesofrequirement(NoRs)theyareresponsiblefor;
AfulltextversionofeachdesignationandNoR,whichincludesthepurposeofthedesignationandanyconditions;and
AnoverlayontheplanningmapsforeachdesignationandNoR,whichshowstheextentofthedesignationboundaries.
1Schedules
Theschedule(s)foreachrequiringauthorityareaquickreferencelistofallthedesignationsarequiringauthorityisresponsible.Theschedulesdonotformpartofadesignationandthefulltextversionofadesignationshouldberelieduponforinformationonadesignation.
Thescheduleidentifiesforeachdesignation(fromlefttoright):Thenumber1ofthedesignation;
Thepurpose2ofthedesignation;and
Thelocation3ofthedesignation.
AnexampleoftheAucklandCouncil’sscheduleofdesignationsissetoutbelow.
DesignationScheduleAucklandCouncil
Number / Description / Location500 / AucklandCityArtGallery… / 1KitchenerStreet,AucklandCentral
501 / Publicopenspace / 4345ViaductHarbourAvenueto119117BandCCustomStreetEast,CentralAuckland
…. / .... / ….
Notes
1.Theletter“R”atthefrontofthedesignationnumberindicatesthisisaNoR.OnceaNoRisconfirmedtheletter"R"willberemoved.
2.Sometimesthepurposeofthedesignationhasbeenashortenedtofittheschedule.Thepurposeofthedesignationinthefulltextversionofthedesignationshouldalwaysberelieduponforinformationonadesignation.
3.Thelocationisintendedtodescribewherethedesignationcanbefoundontheplanningmaps(GIS viewer),whichwillshowtheextentofthedesignationboundaries.Thelocationisnormallydescribedasthestreetaddressorlegaldescriptionofthewholeorpartofthedesignatedsite,orthegenerallocalityforadesignationoveralargearea.Ifthelocationchanges(i.e.changeofaddressorlegaldescriptioninasubdivision),thedesignationmaybeupdatedwiththesenewdetailswithoutanalterationtothe
designationusingsection181oftheRMA.
2Text
Thefulltextversionofadesignationshouldbereliedonforinformationonthedesignation.
Thefulltextversionofthedesignationidentifies(fromtoptobottom):Thenumber1andnameofthedesignation(intheheader);
Thenumber1ofthedesignation(firstlineofthetable);
Therequiringauthorityresponsibleforthedesignation;Thelocation3ofthedesignation;
Whetheritisarolloverdesignationfromthepreviousdistrictplan;
Thereferencenumberoftherolloverdesignationunderthepreviousdistrictplan;
Thelapsedate4whichisthedatethedesignationlapses1unlessithasbeengiveneffect(i.e.nonotlapse);Thepurposeofthedesignation(beneaththetable);
Theconditionsofthedesignation;and
Anyattachmentstothedesignationsuchasplansanddiagrams.
AnexampleofAucklandCouncil’sfulltextversionofthedesignationfortheAucklandCityArtGalleryissetoutbelow.
500AucklandCityArtGallery
Reference Number / 500RequiringAuthority / AucklandCouncil
Location / 1KitchenerStreet,AucklandCentral
Rollover Designation / Yes
LegacyReferenceNumber / Designation306,AucklandCouncilDistrictPlan(CentralArea)2005
LapseDate / Giveneffectto(i.e.nolapsedate)
Purpose
Thisdesignationprovidesforthedevelopment,operationandmaintenanceofAucklandArtGalleryToioTamakiandancillaryactivities.Thedevelopmentworksencompassedbythisdesignationprincipallyinvolve…
Conditions
PlansandInformation
1.Theheight,shape,andbulkoftheproposedbuildingworksshallbecarriedoutgenerallyinaccordancewiththeplanslistedinthetablebelowandwhicharecomprisedinAppendix1totheseconditions(theseplansavailableonrequest):…etc
Attachments
Noattachments.
Notes
1.Theletter“R”atthefrontofadesignationnumberindicatesthisisaNoR.OnceaNoRisconfirmedtheletter"R"willberemoved.
2.Thenameofadesignationintheheaderisnonstatutoryanddoesnotformpartofthepurposeofadesignation.Ifthenonstatutorynamechanges(i.e.aparkorroadisrenamed),thedesignationmaybe
updatedwiththesenewdetailswithoutanalterationtothedesignationusingsection181oftheRMA.
3.Thelocationisintendedtodescribewherethedesignationcanbefoundontheplanningmaps(GIS viewer),whichwillshowtheextentofthedesignationboundaries.Thelocationisnormallydescribedasthestreetaddressorlegaldescriptionofthewholeorpartofthedesignatedsite,orthegenerallocalityforadesignationoveralargearea.Ifthelocationchanges(i.e.changeofaddressorlegaldescriptioninasubdivision),thedesignationmaybeupdatedwiththesenewdetailswithoutanalterationtothe
designationusingsection181oftheRMA.
4.Ifthelapsedateofthedesignationischangedbygivingeffecttothedesignationorthroughanextensiontothelapsedateundersection184or184AoftheRMA,thelapsedateofthedesignationmaybeupdatedwithoutanalterationtothedesignationusingsection181oftheRMA.
3Maps
Theplanningmaps(GISviewer)shouldbereliedonfortheextentofthedesignationboundaries1.
Designationsontheplanningmapsareidentifiedby:
Anoverlaywitha"red"outlineandthenumberofthedesignation(inred)inside;or
Anoverlaywitha“tanbrown”outline,dottedinfillandthenumberofthedesignation(intanbrown)inside. Thisgenerallyappliestoadesignationthatimposesarestrictionoveralargeareaofland,water,subsoil,orairspace. Forexampleaheightrestrictionaroundanairportflightpath.
Thefollowinginformationcanbeobtainedfromtheplanningmaps(GISviewer)onasitetowhichadesignationapplies:
Thenumber2ofthedesignation(s);Thename3ofthedesignation(s);Therequiringauthority;
Theaddress;and
Thelegaldescription.
Notes
1.Theplanningmaps(GISviewer)introduceascaleandprecisionofmappingnotachievedinpreviousplanningdocuments.TheCouncilhasuseditsbestendeavours(withtheassistanceofrequiringauthorities)toaccuratelymaptheextentofeachdesignationboundaryontheplanningmaps.AnyconcernsovertheaccuracyofanypartofthemappingshouldberaisedwiththeCouncil.
2.Theletter"R"hasnotbeenusedinthedesignationnumbertoindicateaNoRontheplanningmaps(GISviewer).However,"R"isusedinthefrontofthedesignationnumberintheschedulesandfulltextversionofthedesignationtodenoteaNoR.
3.Thenameofthedesignationintheplanningmaps(GISviewer)isnonstatutoryanddoesnotformpartofthepurposeofadesignation.Thefulltextversionofadesignationshouldberelieduponforinformationonadesignation.
4Guidance
ThisnonstatutorysectionisbasedonlegislativerequirementsundertheRMA,caselawandbestpractiseanalysisondesignations,noticesofrequirement(NoRs)andoutlineplans. Itisintendedtoinformthepublic,practitionersandrequiringauthoritiesalike.
Amendmentsmaybemadetothissectionfromtimetotimetorecogniselegislativechanges,andthe
developmentofcaselawandbestpractise.
1Introduction
Part8(sections166to186)oftheRMArelatestodesignations,NoRsandoutlineplans.
AdesignationisaprovisionintheUnitaryPlan(districtplansection),whichgiveseffecttoaNoRforapublicwork,projectorworkbyarequiringauthority.ANoRistheproposalorapplicationforadesignation1.Onlyarequiringauthority,whichisaMinisteroftheCrown,localauthorityorapprovednetworkutilityoperator,cangivenoticeofarequirement.
OnceaNoRhasbeenthroughthestatutoryprocessandbeenconfirmedasadesignationitcan:Enabletheuseoflandforaprojectorwork;
Restricttheuseofland,water,subsoil,orairspacewherethisisnecessaryforthesafeorefficientfunctioningoroperationofsuchaprojectorwork;and
Requirewrittenapprovalfromtherequiringauthoritybeforeanythirdpartycanundertakeanyactivitywithinadesignationthatwouldpreventorhinderapublicwork,projectorworktowhichitrelates.
Beforearequiringauthoritycanconstructapublicwork,projectorworkwithinadesignation,anoutlineplanmustnormallybesubmittedtoprovidetheCouncilwithanopportunitytorequestanychanges. Anoutlineplangenerallyprovidesthedetailofthepublicwork,projectorwork,whichmaynothavebeenavailableatthetimetheNoRwaspreparedandthedesignationconfirmed.
TheUnitaryPlanincludesthoseexistingdesignationsrolledoverfromthepreviousdistrictplans“without”or“with”modificationandanyNoRsgiventotheCouncilbyarequiringauthority,whichifconfirmedfollowingthestatutoryprocesswilltheneachbecomeadesignationintheUnitaryPlan.
1HastingsvAucklandCityCouncil[2001]A068/01
2RequiringAuthorityStatus
Section166oftheRMAdefinesa“requiringauthority”as:AMinisteroftheCrown;
Alocalauthority;or
Anapprovednetworkutilityoperator.
MinistersoftheCrownandlocalauthoritiesarerequiringauthoritiesforpublicworks,projectsorworkstheyhavefinancialresponsibilityfor.
Thosenetworkutilityoperatorslistedundersection166oftheRMAcanapplytotheMinisterfortheEnvironmentforrequiringauthoritystatusundersection167.TheMinistercanapproverequiringauthoritystatusforaspecificprojectoranentirenetworkoperation.ThescopeoftherequiringauthoritystatusapprovedbytheMinsterundersection167willbesetoutinGazetteNotice. Mosteligiblenetworkutilityoperatorshavealreadyobtainedthisstatus.
Networkutilityoperatorsnotlistedundersection166oftheRMAcannotapplyforrequiringauthoritystatusundersection167.However,theycanapplytotheGovernorGeneraltomakeregulationsundersection360for
aprojectorworktobedeclaredanetworkutilityoperationwithrequiringauthoritystatus.TherequiringauthoritystatusapprovedbytheGovernorGeneralwillbesetoutintheregulations.Section360hasbeenusedsparinglysincetheenactmentoftheRMA.
Alistoftherequiringauthoritiesapprovedundersection167or360isontheMinistryfortheEnvironment
websitelinkbelowalongwithlinkstotherelatedGazetteNoticeorregulations:
3EffectofaDesignation
Section176oftheRMAdefinestheeffectofadesignation.
3.1Enabling EffectofaDesignation
Section176(1)(a)oftheRMAstatesthatsection9(3)doesnotapplytoapublicwork,projectorworkundertakenbyarequiringauthorityunderadesignation.ThismeansthenormalprovisionsoftheUnitaryPlan(districtplanprovisions)donotapplytoadesignationandtherequiringauthorityisallowedtousethelandforanyactivitywithinthescopeofthedesignation.
ActivitiesthatfalloutsidethescopeofadesignationaresubjecttothenormalprovisionsoftheUnitaryPlan.
AdesignationdoesnotexcludeotherrestrictionsordutiesunderPart3oftheRMA(i.e.NationalEnvironmentalStandardsorUnitaryPlanregionalprovisions)orthegeneraldutiesimposedundersections16and17
(i.e.avoidingunreasonablenoiseandavoiding,remedyingandmitigatingadverseeffects).
3.2RestrictiveEffectofaDesignation
Section176(1)(b)oftheRMAstatesthatnopersonmaydoanythingwithinadesignatedsitethatwouldpreventorhinderaprojectorworktowhichthedesignationrelates.Anypersonseekingtoundertakeanactivitywithin
adesignationthatwouldpreventorhinderapublicworkorprojectorworktowhichthedesignationrelatesmusthavewrittenconsentfromtherequiringauthority.
Thisrestrictionincludes:Undertakinganyuseoftheland;Subdividingtheland;or
Changingthecharacter,intensity,orscaleoftheuseoftheland.
Itisbestpractisetoprovideasection176(1)(b)approvalwithanyapplicationforresourceconsentthatiswithinadesignation.
Section179relatestotheappealofapersonagainstarequiringauthority’srefusaltograntconsentto undertakeworkwithinadesignation.Ifaperson(i.e.thirdparty)appliestoarequiringauthoritytodoworksonadesignatedsiteandthisisrefused,thenthatpersonisabletoappealthisdecisiontotheEnvironmentCourt.
4ScopeofaDesignation
Thescopeofadesignationisthenatureoftheactivitiesthatarequiringauthoritymayundertakewithinthedesignationundersection176oftheRMA.Itiswhatanordinarymemberofthepublicwouldunderstandthescopetobewheninspectingthedesignationinthedistrictplan1.
IntheUnitaryPlanthescopeofadesignationisdeterminedbyreferenceto:Thepurposeofthedesignationwhichisthe“designatedpurpose”;
Theconditionsofthedesignation;
Anyotherrelevantplans,diagramsordocumentsreferencedinthedesignation;andTheextentofthedesignationboundariesontheplanningmaps.
InsomecasesitmaybenecessarytorefertotheoriginalNoRforguidancewherethescopeofadesignationisunclear.
Thepurposeofadesignationshouldprovidethepublicareasonableideaofwhatactivitiescouldtakeplacewithinthedesignation2.Someattemptshouldbemadetodescribethepublicwork,projectorworkandprovidesomeboundarieswithinwhichtheeffectswouldbecontained.Statingthegeneralpurposewithoutfurtherexplanationisnotsufficient2.
Foranetworkutilityoperator,thescopeofthedesignationmustalsobeconsistentwiththerequiringauthoritystatusapprovedbytheMinisterundersection167oftheRMAorinthecaseofsection360,thestatusapprovedbytheGovernorGeneral.
1WaimairiCountyCouncilvHogan(1978)2NZLR587
2NgataringaBay2000IncvMinisterofDefence(3)[1992]2NZRMA318
5ConditionsonaDesignation
Designationsarenotsubjecttothenormalrestrictionsplacedonresourceconsentconditionsundersection108oftheRMAbuttheyshouldstillconformtolegalprinciples.
Theconditionsonadesignationcan:AddressaparticularaspectofaNoR;Limittheextentofthedesignation;orControltheeffectsofthedesignation.
TheCourtofAppeal1hasheldthattheNewburytests2remainrelevanttoNewZealandcourtsandshouldcontinuetoapplyinrelationtotheRMA. AccordingtotheNewburytests,avalidconditionshould:
Beforaresourcemanagementpurpose;
Befairlyandreasonablyrelatedtotheproposedwork;and
Notbesounreasonablethatareasonablecouncilcouldnothaverecommendedit(i.e.shouldnotdefeatthedesignation).
Whenrecommendingaconditiononadesignation,theCouncilshouldhaveregardtothepotentialeffectoftheconditionsonthefutureoperationofadesignationandtakecaretoensuretheconditionstonotthwarttheintentofthedesignationprocess3.
1HousingNewZealandLtdvWaitakereCityCouncil[2001]NZRMA202
2NewburyDistrictCouncilvSecretaryofStatefortheEnvironment[1981]AC578
3AGuidetoDesignationsundertheResourceManagementAct1991,MinistryfortheEnvironment
6Lapsing ofa Designation
Section184and184AoftheRMArelatetothelapsingofdesignationsandextensionstothelapsedateofadesignation.
Adesignationlapses:
Fiveyearsafterinclusioninadistrictplan;unlessIthasbeengiveneffectto(i.e.implemented);orThedesignationspecifiesalongerlapsedate.
Lapsedatesareappliedtodesignationstoprovidesomecertaintytothosewhomaybeaffectedbyadesignation.Foradesignationtobe“giveneffectto”itwouldneedtobeabletobeusedforthedesignatedpurposebythelapsedate.Iftherequiringauthorityhasnotgiveneffecttothedesignationbythelapsedate,thedesignationlapsesandcannolongerbeused.
TheCouncilcanapproveanextensiontothelapseperiodofadesignationwithinthreemonthsoftheexpiryofthelapsedateforthedesignation.TheCouncilmustbesatisfiedthattherequiringauthorityhasmade,andiscontinuingtomake,substantialprogressorefforttowardsgivingeffecttothedesignation.
7Noticesof Requirement
Anoticeofrequirement(NoR)isaproposalorapplicationforadesignation,whichmayormaynotsurvivethestatutoryprocessofsubmissionsandappeals1.
ANoRcanbemadebyarequiringauthorityundersections168orbytheCouncilasarequiringauthorityundersection168Afor:
Apublicwork,projectorwork;or
Inrespectofanyland,water,subsoil,orairspacewherearestrictionisnecessaryforthesafeorefficientfunctioningoroperationofapublicwork,projectorwork.
MostNoRsenableapublicwork,projectorworksuchasaschool,road,park,airportornetworkutility. NoRsthatrestrictactivities(onland,water,subsoil,orairspace)forthesafeorefficientfunctionoroperationofapublicwork,projectorworkarelesscommonbutincludeheightrestrictionstoprotectasatellitepathorairplaneapproachflightpathtoanairport.
1HastingsvAucklandCityCouncil[2001]A068/01
7.1Informationto be providedwitha Notice ofRequirement
Form18oftheResourceManagement(Forms,Fees,andProcedure)Regulations2003setsouttheinformationrequiredinaNoR.Thisincludes:
ThenameofterritorialauthoritybeinggiventheNoR;Thenameoftherequiringauthority;
AdescriptionofthesitetowhichtheNoRapplies;
Thenatureoftheproposedpublicwork,projectorwork;Thenatureoftheproposedrestrictionsthatwouldapply;
Theeffectsthatthepublicwork,projectorworkwouldhaveontheenvironment,andthewaysinwhichanyadverseeffectswillbemitigated;
Thealternativesites,routes,andmethodshavebeenconsidered;
Thepublicwork,projectorworkanddesignationoralterationarereasonablynecessaryforachievingtheobjectivesoftherequiringauthority;
Anyresourceconsentsneededfortheproposedactivityandwhetherthesehavebeenappliedfor;Theconsultationundertakenwiththosepartiesthatarelikelytobeaffected;
TheinformationrequiredtobeincludedintheNoRbythedistrictplan,regionalplan,oranyregulationsmadeundertheRMA;and
AlistofthedocumentsattachedtotheNoR.
Form18isavailableattheMinistryoftheEnvironmentwebsite:
InadditiontothistheCouncilconsidersthatthefollowinginformationshouldalsobeincludedwithaNoR:
1.Afeeforprocessing;
2.Sufficientinformationtounderstandthenatureofthepublic,work,projectorwork,preferablyincludingdrawingsorplans;
3.Detailsofcurrentownershipofthelandandtheproposedlandacquisitionprogram;
4.Theproposedsequenceandtimingofimplementationofthepublic,work,projectorwork;
5.Anassessmentagainsttherelevantprovisionsofanynationalpolicystatement,NewZealandcoastalpolicystatement,regionalpolicystatement,proposedregionalpolicystatement,planandproposedplan;
6.Anassessmentagainstanyrelevantnonstatutorystrategiesorplandocuments;and
7.AnassessmentofthosepartiesconsideredtobeaffectedbytheNoR.
7.2InterimEffectofaNoticeofRequirement
Section178oftheRMAsetsouttheinterimeffectofaNoR,whichissimilartotherestrictiveeffectofadesignationundersection176. UpontherequiringauthoritygivingnoticetotheCouncil,nopersonmaydoanythingthatwouldpreventorhindertheproposaltowhichaNoRrelatesunlessthatpersonhasthepriorwrittenconsentoftherequiringauthority.
Thisrestrictionincludes:Undertakinganyuseoftheland;Subdividingtheland;or
Changingthecharacter,intensity,orscaleoftheuseoftheland.
Itisbestpractisetoprovidesection178approvalwithanyapplicationforresourceconsentthatislodgedwiththeCouncilafterithasbeengivenaNoRaffectingthesamesite.
Section179relatestotheappealofapersonagainstarequiringauthority’srefusaltograntconsentto undertakeworkwithinadesignation.Ifaperson(i.e.thirdparty)appliestoarequiringauthoritytodoworksonadesignatedsiteandthisisrefused,thenthatpersonisabletoappealthisdecisiontotheEnvironmentCourt.
7.3NotificationofandConsultationonaNoticeofRequirement
Sections95to95FoftheRMArelatetothenotificationofaNoR.IftheCouncilisgivenaNoR,itmustdecidewhethertoprocessitonanonnotified,limitednotifiedorfullnotifiedbasis.
IfaNoRisfullynotifiedinaproposedplanorplanchangethenotificationtestsunderSchedule1areslightlydifferent.Inadditiontothefullnotification,theCouncilmustpursuanttoSchedule1,clause5(1B)also
notifythoselandownersandoccupiersitconsidersarelikelytobedirectlyaffectedbytheNoR.
ItisnotmandatoryforarequiringauthoritytoundertakeconsultationonaNoR1.However,consultationcanbeinvaluablewhenconsideringalternativesandundertakinganassessmentofeffectsontheenvironment,particularlyiftherearesignificantsocialeffectsthatneedconsideration.
1MalfroyAreaResidentsActionGroupvRotoruaDistrictCouncilA92/98
7.4RecommendationandDecisiononaNoticeofRequirement
Section168and172oftheRMArelatetotherecommendationanddecisiononaNoR.
ForNoRsbyarequiringauthorityotherthantheCouncil,theCouncilmakesarecommendationontheNoRtotherequiringauthority.TherequiringauthoritywillreviewtheCouncil’srecommendationandmakeitsdecisiontoacceptorrejecttherecommendationinwholeorinpart. ForNoRsbytheCouncilasarequiringauthority,theCouncilwillmakeitsownandfinaldecisionontheNoR.
TheCouncil’srecommendationonanotherrequiringauthority'sNoRoritsdecisiononitsownNoRcaneither:Confirmtherequirement;
Modifytherequirement;Imposeconditions;orWithdrawtherequirement.
IfaNoRislimitednotifiedorfullynotified,thedecisionwillbenotifiedtoanysubmitters.IftherearenoappealstotheEnvironmentCourtagainstthedecisionoronceanyappealshavebeenresolved,thedesignationwillbeincludedintheUnitaryPlan.
7.5Alteration to a Designation
Section181oftheRMArelatestothealterationofanexistingdesignation.
ArequiringauthoritythatisresponsibleforadesignationmaygivenoticeofarequirementtotheCounciltoalteranexistingdesignation.Theprocessissubjecttosections168to179,asifitwereanewnoticeof
requirement.
However,theCouncilmayalteradesignationinanoperativedistrictplanoranoticeofrequirementintheproposeddistrictplanwithoutsections168to179applyinginthefollowingcircumstances:
Thealterationinvolvesnomorethanaminorchangetotheeffectsontheenvironmentassociatedwiththeuseorproposeduseoflandoranywaterconcerned,orinvolvesonlyminorchangesoradjustmentstotheboundariesofthedesignationorrequirement;and
Writtennoticeoftheproposedalterationhasbeengiventoeveryowneroroccupierofthelanddirectlyaffectedandthoseownersoroccupiersagreewiththealteration;and
Boththeterritorialauthorityandtherequiringauthorityagreewiththealteration.
8OutlinePlans
Section176AoftheRMArelatestooutlineplans.
Beforethepublicwork,projectorworkisconstructedwithinadesignation,arequiringauthorityisnormallyrequiredtosubmitanoutlineplantotheCounciltorequestanychanges. Anoutlineplangenerallyprovidesthedetailofthepublicwork,projectorwork,whichwasnotavailableatthetimetheNoRwaspreparedandconfirmedasadesignation.
Uponreceiptofanoutlineplan,theCouncilhas20workingdaystoreviewtheinformationandrequestanychanges.TheCouncilcanonlyrequestchangesandcannotimposeconditions.TherequiringauthoritymustthendecidewhethertoacceptthechangesrequestedbytheCouncil.Iftherequiringauthoritydecidesnottomakethechanges,theCouncilmayappealagainstthedecisiontotheEnvironmentCourt.
Section176AdoesnotenvisagethattheCouncilwillrecommendthattheproposalnotproceed1.Inthiscontexttheword“change”meansmakedifferent,alter,ormodifytheproposal,withoutdenyingitaltogether.The changesrequestedshouldnotbesoextensiveastonegatetheimplementationofthedesignation1.
1 WaitakereCityCouncilvMinisterofDefence[2006]NZRMA253
8.1Consultation onan OutlinePlan
ThereisnostatutoryrequirementforconsultationtobeundertakenbyarequiringauthorityduringthepreparationofanoutlineplanorforittobenotifiedundertheRMA.Althoughaconditiononadesignationcanrequirearequiringauthoritytoundertakeconsultationduringthepreparationofanoutlineplanorthedetaileddesignofapublicwork,projectorworks.
RequiringauthoritiesshouldconsultcloselywiththeCouncilduringthepreparationofanoutlineplan,practicallywherethisisforasignificantproposalonolderdesignationwithabroadscope.Therehavebeenexamples whererequiringauthoritieshasundertakenconsultationwiththepublicduringthepreparationofoutlineplans andalsowhereaterritorialauthorityhasnotifiedanoutlineplan.
8.2InformationtobeProvidedwithanOutlinePlan
Section176A(3)statesthatanoutlineplanmustshow:
Theheight,shape,andbulkofthepublicwork,project,orwork;andThelocationonthesiteofthepublicwork,project,orwork;and
Thelikelyfinishedcontourofthesite;and
Thevehicularaccess,circulation,andtheprovisionforparking;andThelandscapingproposed;and
Anyothermatterstoavoid,remedy,ormitigateanyadverseeffectsontheenvironment.
InadditiontothistheCouncilconsidersthatthefollowinginformationshouldalsobeincludedinanoutlineplan:
1.Drawingsorplansoftheworkstobeconstructed;
2.Explanationastohowanoutlineplaniswithinthescopeofadesignationincludinganyconditions;
3.Informationonanyrelevantnationalenvironmentalstandardthatapply;
4.Informationonanyresourceconsentsthatarerequired(regionalorotherwise);and
5.Informationonhowsection16(Dutytoavoidunreasonablenoise)andsection17(Dutytoavoid,remedyormitigateadverseeffects)havebeenaddressed.
Whereanoutlineplanincludesasignificantproposalwithinadesignationthathasabroadscopeandnoorfewconditions,theoutlineplanmayneedtobemorecomprehensiveandaddressmatterssuchasbuildingheight,bulkandlocation,noiseandlighting,heritageandinfrastructureetc.TheunderlyingzonesandoverlaysintheUnitaryPlanprovideausefulguideforsuchoutlineplans.
8.3Outline Plan Waiversand Exceptions
Section176A(2)oftheRMAsetsoutwhenarequiringauthoritydoesnotneedtosubmitanoutlineplantotheCouncil. Thisiswhen:
TheprojectorworkhasotherwisebeenapprovedundertheRMA(i.e.resourceconsent);Thedetailsoftheprojectorworkareincorporatedintothedesignation;or
TheCouncilwaivestherequirementforanoutlineplan(inwriting).
Anoutlineplanscannotgenerallybesoughtfortheremovalordemolitionofabuildingortreeontheirownbecausethisisnotconstructionwithintheintentofsection176A1.ThenormalprovisionsoftheUnitaryPlanwillcontinuetoapplyand,ifnecessary,aresourceconsentmayneedtobeobtained.
Theremovalordemolitionofabuildingortreemayonlybeincludedinanoutlineplanwheretheyareeitherclearlyassociatedwithaproposalorwhereitishinderingtheimplementationofadesignation(i.e.encroachingonaheightrestrictionforasatellitepathorairplaneapproachflightpathtoanairport).
1 WaitakereCityCouncilvMinisterofDefence[2006]NZRMA253
9OtherMatters
Thissectionscoversothermattersthatrelatetodesignations,noticesofrequirementandoutlineplans.
9.1ResourceConsents
Withtheexceptionofsection9(3)oftheRMA,adesignationdoesnotexcludeotherrestrictionsordutiesunderPart3oftheRMA.Aresourceconsentmaystillberequiredfor:
Anyactivityoutsidethescopeofthedesignation;
Anyactivitythatdoesnotcomplywitharegionalrule;or
AnyactivitythatdoesnotcomplywithaNationalEnvironmentStandard.
Adesignationonlyappliestolandabovemeanhighwaterspringsandthereforecannotapplytothecoastalmarinearea. AdesignationisalsosubjecttotheregionalprovisionsrulesintheUnitaryPlan.
9.2NationalEnvironmentalStandards
AnexistingdesignationtakesprecedenceoveraNationalEnvironmentalStandardunlessitlapsesortheextentofthedesignationaltered.Therearespecificinstanceswherethisisnotthecaseandsection43Dand176AoftheRMAshouldbereferredto.
9.3DutytoAvoid,RemedyandMitigate
Thegeneraldutiesinsections16and17oftheRMArelatingtoavoidingunreasonablenoiseandavoiding,remedyingandmitigatingadverseeffectsapplytodesignations.
9.4UnderlyingZone
Theunderlyingzoneappliestothelandwithinadesignationbutonlytothoseactivitiesthatareoutsidethescopeofthedesignation.Whenanactivityisproposedthatisnotwithinthescopeofadesignationitwillbeassessedundertheunderlyingzoning.Thezonealsoindicateswhatthelandcouldbeusedifitwerenotdesignated.
9.5PublicWorks Act 1981
ThePublicWorksAct1991(“PWA”)providestheCrownwiththestatutoryauthoritytoacquirelandforapublicwork.TheacquisitionprocessnormallytakesplaceafteranyresourceconsentshavebeenobtainedoradesignationconfirmedaninvolvedcompulsoryacquisitionifasettlementcannotbereachedbetweenthelandownerandtheCrown.
Becauseadesignationcanrestricttheuseoftheland,intheeventthattherequiringauthoritydoesnotown thesiteandhaspresumablynotstartednegotiations,thelandownercanapplytotheEnvironmentCourtfortherequiringauthoritytoacquireorleaseallorpartofthelandif:
Thelandownertriedandwereunabletoselltheland,andeitherThedesignationpreventsthereasonableuseofland,or
Thepersonwastheownerofthelandwhenthedesignationwascreated.
MoreinformationonthePWAcanbefoundattheLandinformationNewZealandwebsite: