Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Ross McCullough
Opotiki District Council is not aware if any people who presented submissions on its draft district plan three months ago, intend to lodge appeals with the Environment Court.
New council planning and regulatory manager Gerard McCormack says the council is unlikely to be made aware of any appeals in advance of decisions being notified.
He told the Opotiki News the hearings panel was still deliberating over the submissions put forward on the different chapters and aspects of the plan from hearings in late July and early August.
Once the hearings panel has concluded its deliberations, Mr McCormack said a report with recommendations would be produced for the council.
This will then be reported back to the council for approval.
Submitters will then be notified and the appeal period of 30 working days begins.
Appeals are made to the Environment Court which will follow the process prescribed in the Resource Management Act (RMA). Information on which is available https://environmentcourt.govt.nz/court-process/#plan-appeals.
Altogether 62 submissions had been received on the council’s proposed district plan with some submitters choosing to present their views during six weeks of hearings in front of an all-women panel at the council chambers.