The Status of the City Plan

The Christchurch City District Plan (The "City Plan") provides the framework for managing the effects of land use and subdivision within the City.

The City Plan is possibly the largest single plan preparation exercise ever undertaken in New Zealand, and affects 8% of the country's population. With the extensive rights of submission and reference available to the public and affected persons, the preparation of the Plan is a lengthy process.

Work on the City Plan began in 1990. It was publicly notified in June 1995 and subsequently 4310 submissions and 12,000 further submissions were heard by the Council. In May 1999, the Council issued its decisions on most of the submissions (a very small number of outstanding matters remain to be resolved).

Over 350 references (appeals) were lodged with the Environment Court on the Council's decisions. As at November 2005 only a few appeals remain unresolved.

The Environment Court Hearings process, and the timing of its hearings and decisions, is entirely at the discretion of the Court. The Council does not administer this process.

At the present time, most developments must comply with both the City Plan and the Transitional Operative Plans (ie, the Plans prepared prior to amalgamation in 1989 for Christchurch, Waimairi, Paparua, etc). Once a provision in the City Plan is beyond the point where it is subject to any submissions or references, no weight is given to the old Transitional Plans. If a resource consent is required, the weight given to the Transitional Plan will depend on whether any related parts of the Proposed Plan have finally been resolved. If in doubt, an inquiry should be made to a member of the Council's planning staff.

The Council has made the plan operative on 21 November 2005. Unresolved appeals and variations to the plan that have not been completed will not be made operative until they are completely beyond challenge.

A Variation is a process whereby any part of the plan may be amended by the Council. It involves a process of consultation, submission, hearings (if required) Council decision, and a right of appeal to the Environment Court. The Council is proceeding with a limited number of Variations. Among these are Variations on the following subjects:

• Control of development in floodplains and areas subject to potential sea level rise;
• Land use and subdivision rules for the Wigram-Awatea area;
• Retail distribution;
• Rules for financial contributions.

A Plan Change is a process whereby the Council may amend any part of the plan. It involves a process of consultation, submission, hearings (if required) Council decision, and a right of appeal to the Environment Court. Once a decision is issued on a Plan Change, the Council may make the Plan Change operative.

Staff at the City Plan Section, Christchurch City Council, can provide further information on these matters.