The Environmental Court has ordered the Kaipara District Council to notify a landscape variation to its proposed district plan.
The order has come after the Environmental Defence Society complained to the court about the council having blank pages for the outstanding landscape chapter in the plan notified in October last year.
EDSchairman Gary Taylor said last week: "The court minute indicates the council should notify a landscape variation to its plan 'forthwith'. The Kaipara council - like all councils in New Zealand - is required to identify and protect outstanding natural features and landscapes."
Mr Taylor said the council had argued it was going through a staged review of its plan and would notify a landscape chapter at a later stage. The council had also indicated it wanted to consider submissions before finalising the chapter.
"The court noted that any staging of the district plan should still achieve integrated management of the effects of land uses and associated natural and physical resources... and the council could not rely on submitters to create a landscape chapter and address the proposed plan's deficiencies.
"We expect the variation to be notified by the end of November," Mr Taylor said.
Under the terms of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, which takes effect on December 3, the council could deal with any changes required through the submission and hearing process that would follow, he said.
Kaipara Mayor Neil Tiller said the council was proceeding with the variation and it would be notified as soon as practical.
"The previous council did a lot of work on outstanding landscapes, including public consultation," he said.
The rules for outstanding landscapes are tough and there are concerns surrounding private property. It's not about locking up private property," Mr Tiller said.
Rules adopted by the Far North District Council were likely to be a starting point.
"Interested stakeholders such as Federated Farmers, Farmers of New Zealand, the Department of Conservation and iwi have had input into the Far North's plans so it a good base to start with," Mr Tiller said.
The issue is expected to be discussed at a workshop on Wednesday before the council's November monthly meeting.
