26 May 2020 File Ref: 69-06-030-06
Doc No: RDC-1011991
Dear Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers Association
Pukehangi Heights Hearing Date – Request to Minister for Delay
Rotorua Lakes Council have requested an extension of timeframes for the Pukehāngi Heights Plan Change (PC2) hearing from the Minister of the Environment.
Currently, under the Minister’s direction the hearing must commence on or before the 30th June 2020. However, the legislation provides the ability for Council to request an extension to a timeframe (Clause 81, First Schedule, Resource Management Act 1991).
Purpose of the Extension
To allow adequate time to undertake complex stormwater modelling of the receiving environment. This stormwater modelling is important to ensure that the plan change does not exacerbate downstream flood risks.
Consultation
The Regional Council and land owners within the plan change area have been contacted and all have confirmed that they support a delay, as have Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara.
What has caused the delay?
Rotorua Lakes Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council have been working together to ensure there is an appropriate level of information to understand the downstream effects of residential development at the Pukehāngi site.
However, given the complexity of the modelling process it has taken longer than anticipated to assess the flooding effects resulting from the plan change on the downstream environment. Rotorua Lakes Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council have significantly progressed and agreed an amended modelling methodology and this work is now underway. A workshop between the respective Councils is scheduled for 3 June 2020. Under the worst case scenario we will require a 3 month delay to the Hearing. We will be aiming for an earlier completion date. However, this is dependent on the outcome of the stormwater modelling.
Apologies that these changes impact your schedule. However, we will be in contact after the stormwater workshop on 3 June with a better idea of firm dates for the hearing.
Yours faithfully
Kate Dahm
Team Lead Policy