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Designations are areas of land set aside for network utilities or large public works:
They are also known as 'designated areas Land owned by the Crown, local authorities or network utility operators, and which is used for public works. Shown on the planning maps of the District Plan.' and are identified in chapter K of the Auckland Unitary Plan.
Once a designation is in the plan, the proposed works can be carried out at any time.
The authority responsible does not have to comply with Unitary Plan rules, but they do need to notify us by submitting an outline plan of works.
For more information, visit the Ministry for the Environment website.
An outline plan of works lets us know about proposed work on a designated site.
This work should comply with use of the site specified in the designation. For example, building a classroom on a site designated for the Ministry of Education.
If the structure does not comply with the specified use, the requiring authority (for example, Spark or Watercare) will need to get a resource consent from us, rather than follow the outline plan of works process.
There is no opportunity for the public to make submissions on an outline plan of works, except when we publicly notify the initial move to designate a site for a specific use.
Outline plan of works must generally show:
If you are not an approved credit account customer, provide a completed resource consent declaration form as part of your online application.
We need 20 working days to assess an outline plan and may request changes to be made by the requiring authority.
If that authority does not accept the changes, we may appeal to the Environment Court within 15 working days of being notified.