District Plan - Plan Change 2 - Pukehāngi Heights

Consultation has concluded

In recognition of the need for additional residentially zoned land, Rotorua Lakes Council has been working with land owners within the Pukehāngi Heights Area to develop a plan change that is intended to facilitate residential and rural residential development.

The Minister has approved the rezoning of the land and the plan change provisions.

More information on the plan change is provided here

Please note, before housing can occur within this area additional work in relation to stormwater needs to be completed, a discharge consent sought from the regional council and subdivisions approved by the district council.

The Minister has approved the rezoning of the land and the plan change provisions.

More information on the plan change is provided here

Consultation has concluded

Plan Change Approved!
The Minister for the Environment, the Hon David Parker, has approved the plan change.
The plan change will become operative as of 27th March 2021.
Key Documents

Final Report from Hearing Commissioners to the Minister

The final step under the Ministers Direction for the Pukehangi Heights Plan Change is the provision of the final report from the Hearing Commissioners to the Minister, along with all other documents required by clause 83(1) of the Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act (RMA).

Information Requirements	Relevant Documents
The proposed planning instrument	Final Report from Hearing Commissioners (Appendices 1 - 3)
A summary of the written submissions	Submissions Further submissions
A report showing how submissions have been considered and any modifications made to the proposed planning instrument in light of submissions	Final Report from Hearing Commissioners
The evaluation reports required under sections 32 and 32AA	Evaluation Report under Section 32 of the RMA Note, the Final Report from the Hearing Commissioners includes the evaluation required under Section 32AA (paragraphs 35 - 37)
A summary document showing how the Council has had regard to the statement of expectations	Final Report from Hearing Commissioners (paragraphs 15 - 20)
A summary document showing how the proposed planning instrument complies with the requirements of any relevant national direction and the RMA or any regulations made under it.	Final Report from Hearing Commissioners (paragraphs 15 - 20) Supporting Information: Council's Planning Report Original Application for Use of Streamlined Planning Process
Any other information and documentation specified in the direction.	No additional information or documentation required.
Meeting the Minister's Statement of Expectations	The following additional information was submitted to MfE on the 22nd January 2021 Minister's Statement of Expectations

Comments Received on Hearing Commissioner's Draft Report Recommendations
The following comments have been received:
Next Steps
The Hearing Panel will now consider the comments received. The Hearing Commisisoners' final report must be provided to the Minister for the Environment by 15 December 2020.
Draft Report Received From Hearing Commissioners
The Hearing Commissioners have provided their draft Report on the plan change:
Request for Comments
The Ministers Direction specifies that the Hearing Commissioners request and consider comments on the draft report from the following parties: Rotorua District Council, submitters and further submitters before they finalise their report.
The scope of comments is limited to identification and correction of minor or technical errors or omissions. Comments cannot be made on the hearing panel’s recommendation to the Minister for the Environment, or the reasons for its recommendation.
Any comments from the above parties must be received by 1 December 2020.
Final Evidence and Legal Submissions from Rotorua Lakes Council
Final evidence and legal submissions from Rotorua Lakes Council:
Evidence Presented at the Hearing:
Day 1: Monday, 21 September 2020
Day 2: Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Day 3: Wednesday, 23 September 2020
Evidence Circulated Before the Hearing
Submitter's Evidence:
Council's Evidence
Joint Witness Statements
- Stormwater joint witness statement
Proposed Plan Change 2: Pukehāngi Heights Hearing Documents
Council's Planning Report and Supporting Documents:
Hearing Commissioners' Direction and Hearing Procedures:
- Direction No. 1: Direction & Hearings Procedure - David Hill, Chair Hearings Panel
- Direction No. 2: Expert Witness Conferencing: Stormwater/Flood Modelling, David Hill, Chair Hearings Panel
- Direction No. 3: Direction from the chair of the hearings panel, David Hill, to delay the Hearing
Hearing Schedule:
Hearing Timetable: 21 - 23 September 2020
According to the Chair, David Hill's Direction
- Day 1 - Monday 21 September: Outline of Plan Change and submissions by Council and Tangata Whenua;
- Day 2 - Tuesday 22 September: Stormwater-related issues and submissions on that topic and submitters with a direct interest in land within or adjacent to the Structure Plan area;
- Day 3 - Wednesday 23 September: Other submitters, Council's s42a author response and Council's response as proponents of PC2 (including any rebuttal evidence).
What does the Pukehāngi Heights plan change propose?
The plan change proposes to alter the zoning to enable residential and rural residential development within the area. A structure plan along with specific provisions (rules, performance standards etc) are proposed to guide any development.
Area wide assessments of archaeological, cultural and landscape values, natural hazards including stormwater and flooding, and transport have been undertaken to ensure the suitability of the area for a mix of development, including low and medium density residential development and large lot residential. Provision is made within the proposed rules for small-scale commercial centres to help encourage walkable communities.
The plan change has been developed around the following general principles:
- Development that responds to the landscape values of the Caldera Rim and the topography of the area;
- Development that recognises, protects and provides for the expression of the cultural and archaeological values of the area;
- Roads, walkways and cycleway connections throughout the area and connecting with adjoining sites;
- Comprehensively designed low impact stormwater management integrated with development;
- Enhancement of ecological values by including indigenous vegetation plantings; and
- Excellent urban design outcomes for solar access and passive surveillance of public spaces.
The following documents provide specific information on the plan change:
- Evaluation Report (Section 32 Report)
  The Evaluation Report provides a background as to why Council is undertaking the plan change, what the key issues are, the outcomes that Council is wanting to achieve and a summary of how the plan change proposes to achieve this through the plan change. .
- Plan Change Provisions
- Structure Plan
- Zoning Map
- Landscape Assessment
- Stormwater Assessment (please note this link takes you to the document library as there are a number of stormwater reports)
- Landslide Hazard Assessment
- Fault Trace Memo
- Traffic Assessment
- Archaeological Assessment
- Cultural Impact Assessment
A summary of the key topics is provided below:
Submissions available in full or summary
Listed below are a copy of full submissions - click on the submitter name to open individual submissions (updated 06 March 2020 to include late submission No. 47)
We have compiled these all into one document also downloadable here
A summary of submissions are now also downloadable by topic, by submitter or in excel format

District Plan - Plan Change 2 - Pukehāngi Heights

Plan Change Approved!

Final Report from Hearing Commissioners to the Minister

Comments Received on Hearing Commissioner's Draft Report Recommendations

Draft Report Received From Hearing Commissioners

Final Evidence and Legal Submissions from Rotorua Lakes Council

Evidence Presented at the Hearing:

Evidence Circulated Before the Hearing

Proposed Plan Change 2: Pukehāngi Heights Hearing Documents

What does the Pukehāngi Heights plan change propose?

Submissions available in full or summary

Timeline

More information

Approval from Minister for the Environment to use Streamlined Plan Change Process

Submissions period

Submissions available online

Summary of Submisisons Available

Further Submissions Period

Pre-Hearing Mediation (Disputes Resolution) if required

Hearings Start - 21-23 September

Hearing Commissioners have now closed Hearing: 5 October 2020

Draft Report Circulated to submitters/further submitters

Commissioners Recommendations to the Minister

Plan Change Approved!

Document Library