The Auckland Unitary Plan
Auckland Council is developing New Zealand’s biggest single resource management plan, known as the Auckland Unitary Plan.
A bold and transformational plan, it will become the council’s key tool to manage development on land and water. It will have a direct impact on the shape of the city and the quality of Auckland’s built and natural environment.
Providing consistency and simplified rules, it will replace the existing district and regional plans and policies of the former city and district councils and regional council, with the exception of the recently approved Hauraki Gulf Islands District Plan.
The Auckland Unitary Plan will be the principal regulatory tool to implement the The Auckland Plan, the council’s overriding 30 year strategy aimed at turning Auckland into the world’s most liveable city.
A political working party and council officers will produce a draft plan by December 2012, for notification and public consultation in early 2013. Between now and then there will be targetted opportunities to become involved in the process. It will have a life of 10 years.
The council has adopted the following key principles for the Auckland Unitary Plan:
- outcomes focused
- simple
- bold
- innovative
- user-friendly
- regulation in proportion to the scale of potential impact.
Keep checking the council’s website for further information as the plan is developed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Auckland Unitary Plan?
A: The Auckland Unitary Plan is the rulebook for what you can do on your land and property and how we use the natural and physical resources of the region.
Q: Is the Auckland Unitary Plan replacing the regional and district plans?
A: Yes, the Auckland Unitary Plan will be a combined plan. It will replace the existing regional and district plans of the former councils.
Q: Will it primarily be a roll-over of existing district plans under a new name?
A: No, it will be an extensive review of all plans apart from the Hauraki Gulf Islands District Plan, which has only recently been through a similar process.
It is however likely that many of the outcomes and approaches included in the existing district plans will be reflected in the Auckland Unitary Plan.
Q: What is the purpose of developing this plan? Will it be beneficial having one single document?
A: The Auckland Unitary Plan will provide greater consistency across Auckland, be easy to read and understand and simplify the planning processes.
Q: Why is the Auckland Unitary Plan being developed now?
A: The Auckland Unitary Plan is one of the key tools to implement the Auckland Plan, which will provide the strategic direction of how and where the city will grow and develop over the next 20-30 years.
Following consultation and public hearings, the Auckland Plan will be finalised in February 2012.
Q: When will ratepayers need to refer to the Auckland Unitary Plan? Is there an outline of what it covers?
A: The Auckland Unitary Plan will contain policies and controls for what you can and cannot do on land or in/with water (i.e. streams, lakes and the sea).
It will cover things such as whether or not you need a resource consent (i.e. planning approval) to build a house, make alterations or demolish a building. It will also identify protected heritage buildings and trees, and other features of Auckland’s environment that need to be protected.
Q: When will the Auckland Unitary Plan be complete?
A: The council aims to have a working draft approved in December 2012 prior to public consultation in 2013. In the meantime, existing district plans and regional policies and plans remain operative. These policies and plans will continue to remain relevant for some time after 2013.
Q: Who is responsible for delivering the Auckland Unitary Plan?
A: Auckland Council has a dedicated project team and a political working party of councillors who will produce the draft plan and recommend it to the governing body for adoption for public consultation in 2013.
Q: Who is the Auckland Council consulting on the plan?
A: Auckland Council is consulting with many key stakeholders and Auckland audiences to gain insight and direction in the development of the plan, including developers, property owners, local boards, advisory panels, iwi and the Independent Maori Statutory Board. This consultation will build on the feedback already received on the Auckland Plan.
Q: How does Auckland Council plan to make such a large and detailed document user-friendly for Aucklanders?
A: When completed, the Auckland Unitary Plan will be published as a plain English, easy-to-use online tool on the council’s website to simplify information searches.
Q: Are local boards involved in the Auckland Unitary Plan?
A: Yes, the governing body must consider the local boards’ views on the Auckland Unitary Plan. Local boards have an important role identifying and communicating the views, local impacts and issues facing their communities to the governing body.
Q: Who is leading the decision making for the Auckland Unitary Plan?
A: A political working party is guiding the draft Auckland Unitary Plan and recommendations are being made to the Governing Bodyof Auckland Council.
Q: Will the Auckland Unitary Plan be tailored based on the different areas of Auckland, or will it deliver complete consistency across entire region?
A: The Auckland Unitary Plan will look to provide greater consistency across the region, while recognising local characteristics as reflected in the Auckland Plan, and local place-based planning initiatives which will help apply the Auckland Plan at a local level.
Q: Will ratepayers get the chance to provide feedback or contribute to the plan?
A: Once the council has agreed on a proposed plan, this will be open for formal public consultation in 2013, followed by hearings. There will be targeted opportunities to have input before then.
Q: What is the process for developing the Auckland Unitary Plan?
A:
| Stage one May - December 2011 |
Direction setting and big policy issues |
| Stage two January - June 2012 |
Next level of policy issues |
| Stage three July – December 2012 |
Finer grain detail and localised issues. Draft plan completed. |
Q: How long does the Auckland unitary plan last once it becomes operative?
A: Under the Resource Management Act the Unitary Plan must be reviewed at least every 10 years. In reality the council will look to update the plan to keep it relevant before then.
Q: How does the Auckland Unitary Plan relate to other plans?
A: The Auckland Unitary Plan will be a key tool to implement the Auckland Plan, which sets the strategic direction of the region’s growth over the next 30 years.
It is developed under the Resource Management Act and provides a regulatory means of implementing the Auckland Plan.
The council has also embarked on a process for preparing an Area Plan for each of the 21 local board areas. The Area Plans will reflect the Auckland Plan at a local board scale. The land use aspects of the Area Plans will be incorporated into the Auckland Unitary Plan progressively over time.
Q: Where can I get further information?
A: On this website - information will be regularly updated.