Rotorua's master plan revealed

Commercial opportunity and lakefront development are in the proposed district plan. Photo / File

After years of consultation and planning the Rotorua District Council has released its proposed District Plan - the document that sets down the rules for future development and land-use in the district.

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said after three years of intense community engagement and consultation, Rotorua's most important planning document was nearing completion.

"As this plan establishes a very progressive platform for our district's future, we made a commitment to develop it through genuine collaboration with our community.

"This will ensure it becomes a widely accepted and sustainable document that can contribute to the positive future we all aspire to."

The council received 622 separate submissions and went through eight months of public hearings and deliberations by a panel of commissioners on more than 10,000 submission points.

District Plans are essential council planning tools for guiding district development and land-use and are a requirement under the Resource Management Act.

Submissions to the proposed District Plan were considered by a panel of commissioners made up of district councillors Glenys Searancke, Janet Wepa and Karen Hunt, and a range of council officers offering support and advice.

Mrs Chadwick acknowledged their hard work as well as the thousands of local residents and other stakeholders who had been part of the process.

"We acknowledge that some decisions will not please every submitter. However, the appeals process provides another opportunity for the council to listen and for decisions to be refined.

"Partnerships like this are the way of the future for Rotorua District Council ..." Any decisions can be appealed to the Environment Court.

Those parts of the proposed plan not appealed will become operative by late January, replacing sections of the current district plan adopted in 1996.

The full plan will come into effect after the appeals process.

Appeals can only be lodged by previous submitters, and only on points covered in their earlier submissions.

Submitters have been advised in writing of their appeal options and have 30 working days from receipt of those letters to lodge their appeals.

The proposed plan can be viewed online at www.rdc.govt.nz, while printed copies can be inspected at the council's Customer Centre and District Library.

Printed volumes can be purchased from the council and are also available on CD.

Key decisions

Inner city

• Removal of financial contributions to council for new inner city developments

• QE lakefront site changed from reserve status to allow future commercial, retail, tourism and residential development

• Restricting commercial activity in other zones to encourage inner city commercial activity

• Reinforcing Tutanekai St "spine" by requiring pedestrian friendly activities and building design

Iwi partnerships
• More permissive and enabling rules for activities on Maori land

Economic growth
• Reduced development restrictions around natural hazards
• Identification of Taheke and Ohaki areas for geothermal commercial development
• Allowing mixed use industrial/commercial zones at city entranceways

Sustainable living/places to play
• More permissive rules for structures in lakeside settlements
• Caldera rim rural backdrop retained but development allowed in less sensitive areas
• More land released for residential development
• Previous proposal to allow high density housing in Hamurana changed back to retain current status (large lots)

Alignment with Rotorua 2030 vision:
• Revitalisation of Rotorua's inner city area
• Improving lakes' water quality
• Enhancing opportunities for economic growth
• Partnership with iwi
• Sustainable living
• Fostering innovation
• Lakeside settlements