Proposed district plan timeline
Clause 10A Timeframe Extension
The Council received a timeframe extension approval from the Minister for the Environment for the Proposed District Plan project. Decisions on submissions must be notified by 27 May 2026. The public notice of the timeframe extension and supporting documents are available below:
- Public Notice of Clause 10A Timeframe Extension Application
- Clause 10A Timeframe Extension Application
- Clause 10A Timeframe Extension Approval
Timeline overview
The current District Plan review process was initiated in 2016. A key part of that review process was undertaken in 2022 when we formally notified the Proposed District Plan and called for submissions. We received 580 submissions that raised thousands of requests to be considered.
We then provided an opportunity for landowners, tangata whenua, the wider community, and stakeholders to tell us whether they support or oppose what was requested in those original submissions. We still have several steps to complete before adopting a new District Plan. These are shown below.
| Key Milestone | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Draft Proposed District Plan | 2021 |
| Proposed District Plan notified | 2022 |
| Submissions and further submissions | 2023 |
| Hearings | 2024-2025 |
| Panel Recommended Decisions | Early 2026 |
| Council Decisions | By 27 May 2026 |
Anyone who has made a submission or a further submission, can participate in hearings where they have indicated they wish to be heard. These submitters also have the right to appeal to the Environment Court if they disagree with the council's final decision.
What happens next?
Staff and consultants will prepare reports that include:
- an analysis of original and further submissions
- recommendations on which parts of the Proposed District Plan should be adopted, removed or modified.
Hearings and pre-hearings
Council may arrange pre-hearing meetings on specific topics.
Public hearings for submitters who wish to be heard will take place throughout 2024/2025.
- The hearings panel will hear all submissions and any further evidence presented at a hearing.
- The hearings panel will then make recommendations to the council on the Proposed District Plan including its reasons for accepting or rejecting submissions.
Decisions on the PDP
In 2026 the council will give notice of its decisions on the Proposed District Plan based on the recommendations of the hearings panel.
- Submitters have the option to appeal decisions to the Environment Court.
- The plan will then be adopted, except any parts of the plan subject to an ongoing appeal.
- The final District Plan will not be fully operative until all appeals relating to it have been resolved.