Statement from Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker

Statement from Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker on the Environment Court decision re Banks Peninsula landscape appeals.

The decision by the Environment Court means that one of the most contentious and time consuming parts of the old Banks Peninsula District Plan and now the Christchurch City Council Plan has been resolved.

This closure of this difficult chapter follows ground breaking cooperation between the rural community and other community stakeholders who have worked alongside Council staff to complete the key parts of this district plan.

I am now delighted that the work by the Banks Peninsula planners and more recently the City Council planners and the consultants, Boffa Miskell, has been seen through to a conclusion and has been vindicated by the Environment Court.

Many thousands of hours of work by Council staff and the Community went into this study and I want to congratulate our staff and people such as Federated Farmers and other community groups for their input.