Update: The standards for permitted temporary accommodation were published in a public notice on 9 April 2011. At its meeting on 24 November 2011 the Council resolved to amend some of the standards applicable to temporary accommodation in the Living Zones (Christchurch City Plan) and to preschools. The amended standards were published in a public notice on 21 December 2011, and take effect from that date.
The Council wants to help people lead as normal a life as possible at this time and wants to avoid slowing down the recovery process. The needs of displaced people may not be met if they have to comply with the City or District Plans rules or go through the normal resource consent processes.
The Resource Management Act processes have therefore been streamlined for businesses and householders relocating to temporary accommodation following the February earthquake. The processes have also been streamlined for construction depots and storage yards needed for earthquake recovery work.
The Canterbury Earthquake (Resource Management Act Permitted Activities) Order 2011 was approved by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Minister for the Environment on 8 March 2011 to enable the Council to permit temporary accommodation for displaced people and businesses that would otherwise not comply with the City and District Plans.
The Order has an expiry date of 18 April 2016. Any temporary accommodation established under this legislation can therefore only remain on site until that date unless a resource consent has been obtained.
What does this mean for people/ businesses who have relocated or are planning to relocate into temporary accommodation?
- If the temporary accommodation breaches rules in the City Plan or Banks Peninsula District Plan, the Council will now permit it, if it complies with standards (see this link for details)
The standards vary depending on the type of temporary accommodation and the zone in the City Plan or Banks Peninsula District Plan.
People planning to relocate to temporary accommodation that breaches rules in the City Plan or Banks Peninsula District Plan must seek confirmation first by filling in a
Permitted Temporary Accommodation form.
The Council will then check that the temporary accommodation complies with all necessary standards for that location.
The Council will confirm in writing within 3 working days whether the activity requested is permitted. There will be no charge for this.
If the requested temporary accommodation activity is not listed as being permitted in the zone, or does not comply with the standards for that location, then the Council has put in place a special streamlined process to see if suitable arrangements can be put in place to permit the temporary accommodation. This can be applied for using the form
Application for Temporary Accommodation: Site Specific Approval.
A commissioner will consider the request to decide whether the temporary accommodation can be permitted with suitable conditions attached. The timeframe for doing this is 5 working days.
There will be no charge for the commissioner approval process.
All other statutory requirements and regulations (e.g. building consent, liquor licensing) will still stand and will need to follow the normal processes.
People who have already relocated to temporary accommodation that breaches rules in the City or Banks Peninsula District Plans now need to seek confirmation that they meet the standards, by filling in a Permitted Temporary Accommodation form. If the standards are not met, people will need to make an application for approval of their activity using the
Application for Temporary Accommodation: Site Specific Approval form.
What does this mean for the general public?
Temporary accommodation will be located in parts of the City in which it would not normally be allowed under the City Plan or Banks Peninsula District Plan.
Temporary accommodation may be located in parts of the city not otherwise affected by the earthquake.
- You may start to see different things happening in your neighbourhood, if temporary accommodation is set up. This is only for a limited period of time.
If you have any questions or require further information phone 941-8999 and ask to speak to the Duty Planner.
