District Plans Fully Operative

Moves are underway to streamline the planning that directs the management and the decision-making relating to the natural and physical resources of Marlborough. The Council’s formal plans also signal to the broader community where the region’s priorities lie in terms of environmental protection, and the way that is balanced against the pressure for development.

Two of the key planning documents, the Marlborough Sounds Resource Management Plan and the Wairau/Awatere Resource Management Plan, are now in full effect, after more than a decade of work to resolve various appeals to aspects of these plans.

The plans provide resource users with direction over the use, development and protection of land, water, air and coastal resources, while protecting the surrounding environment.

Council planner Pere Hawes says resolving the aspects of the plans that had been appealed was a long and complicated exercise but each is now fully operative.

At the same time, Councillor David Dew is leading a review committee that is looking at the Marlborough Regional Policy Statement – the overall guide for the region.

“Our ultimate aim is to integrate our planning under one new regime – and to simplify the processes. We also need to consider how our planning can more directly address our priorities and aspirations by, for example, giving much greater recognition to our valuable water resources, protecting our natural environment and recognising iwi values,” says Councillor Dew.