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Regional Council & Territorial Authorities

Regional Council

The Resource Management Act 1991 requires regional councils to prepare regional policy statements and coastal regional plans. Other Plans may be prepared. These have planning implications for the forest industry.

The West Coast region is administered by the West Coast Regional Council which has responsibility under the Resource Management Act 1991 (s.30) for managing water, soil and air resources, and for pollution control.

Territorial Authorities

The West Coast region incorporates three territorial authorities:

Table 8 Territorial Authorities by Area (hectares) on the West Coast

Buller District Council	795 444
Grey District Council	351 692
Westland District Council	1 188 015
Total	2 335 151

Source: LINZ, 1992.

Controls In Plans

All the above territorial authorities have district plans prepared under the Resource Management Act 1991. The Buller District Plan is operative and the Westland District Plan is very largely operative. Grey District has a proposed plan that has legal effect, but until the statutory process is completed district schemes prepared under the former Town and Country Planning Act 1977 remain in operation as a transitional district plan.

There are also a number of regional plans for the West Coast in different stages of development.

Land uses or activities are generally listed in proposed or operative plans as "permitted", "controlled", "discretionary", "non-complying" or "prohibited":

• Permitted activities are allowed without resource consents from the council, provided the activities are in accordance with the standards in the plan.
• Controlled activities are allowed if resource consents are obtained from the council. Resource consents must be granted provided terms and conditions specified in the plan are satisfied, but the council can include conditions relating to matters over which it has reserved control.
• Discretionary activities are allowed if resource consents are obtained from the council. Councils retain the discretion to allow or disallow resource consent applications. Resource consents may include conditions.
• Non-complying activities are those that contravene a rule in a plan. Applications must be made for resource consents that may or may not be granted by the council.
• Prohibited activities are specified in a plan and are not allowed under any circumstances.

Controlled, discretionary and non-complying activities may require public notification and the hearing of any public objections. There may be variation with respect to the provisions that apply to forestry both within geographic areas covered by individual plans, and among plans.

Resource management planning by regional and district councils under the Resource Management Act 1991 will influence land and forestry management. Investors in the forest industry should consult directly with the relevant authorities for up-to-date information on policy statements, plans and other requirements for development proposals.

 

Contact for Enquiries

Policy Analyst - Forestry
Innovation and Research
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND

Tel: +64 4 894 0100
Fax: +64 4 894 0741
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