Council approves plans for North West Christchurch

The Christchurch City Council has given approval for staff to proceed with work on the proposed rezoning of the North West Review Area, following a study of the area.

The Council has agreed with the Planning Committee’s recommendations that a plan change is needed to rezone 100 hectares, currently zoned rural, for business purposes to accommodate demand for business land in the north west of Christchurch. These areas are:

• approximately 15 hectares for industrial business purposes at 711 Johns Road, north of Waimakariri Road (Area 1);
• approximately 50 hectares for industrial business purposes, north of Wairakei Road between Woolridge Road and Russley Road (Area 2); and
• approximately 35 hectares for industrial business purposes, between Hawthornden Road and Russley Road (Area 3).

 

The Council directed staff to consult with the Fendalton/Waimarri and Shirley/Papanui Community Boards, residents and affected parties before the draft proposed plan change goes to the Planning Committee for approval to notify for formal consultation.

The Council also asked Council staff to lead a plan change to provide a clearer policy framework for the Special Purpose (Airport) zone (SPAZ) in the City Plan. There has been pressure for non-airport related activities in the airport zone, which have been granted resource consent due to the limitations in the current policy framework. The proposed plan change will review the rules around activities permitted within the SPAZ, with consideration given to allowing a wide range of business activities in the 80 hectare Dakota Park – identified as a zone suitable for cargo and freight handling activities. It is anticipated that work on these plan changes will begin shortly.

Finally, the Council has approved the rezoning of other parts of the North West Review Area to a special ‘Rural-Urban Fringe’ zone* as part of the Council’s District Plan Review, which will begin in 2014. This rezoning reflects the importance of the natural and physical resources such as the groundwater aquifers and high quality soils, its strategic significance as part of the gateway to Christchurch and its role in linking the city, Christchurch International Airport and the State Highway network.

Unit Manager City Planning Brigitte de Ronde says these actions will support the ongoing use of the area for rural activities, while maintaining the natural and physical resources of the NWRA. They will also enable the development of areas for business activities to support the recovery of the city.

”We expect there will be ongoing pressure on this area for a range of uses, particularly as a result of business displacement caused by the earthquakes, and we need to move to ensure there is enough land available to accommodate business growth.”

These plan changes will be subject to processes under the Resource Management Act 1991, including public notification, submissions, a formal hearing of those submissions, and potentially appeals to the Environment Court. In the meantime, new business activities cannot be established on those specific sites unless a resource consent has been granted, or they are already permitted in the City Plan.

The NWRA is an area of approximately 860 hectares situated between the airport and the city’s urban edge. It extends for approximately 10 kilometres along State Highway 1 between Yaldhurst Road in the south and Johns Road, adjacent to The Groynes/Clearwater, in the north.

To read the Final Report as presented to the Council click here.

The attachments to the Final Report are below:

• Attachment 1: Map - Location of North West Review Area
• Attachment 2: Map - Location of Proposed Business Use
• Attachment 3: Final Report - North West Review Area
• Attachment 4: Map - Dakota Park Subdivision Plan
• Attachment 5: Letter - Christchurch International Airport Limited

 

For more information visit http://www.ccc.govt.nz/northwestchchreviewarea

Background

In July 2011 the Council sought input from the community and stakeholders about their aspirations for the North West Review Area (NWRA) and the issues that should be addressed in the study. Feedback was received on what people wanted retained and the changes that they sought, which has informed the staff’s recommendations.

The Council’s Planning Committee met on 3 October to discuss a Council staff report recommending the future use of the North West Review Area following the public consultation in July 2011.

The study has also considered the natural and physical resources of the NWRA and the direction provided by policies and strategies. These and other factors have informed the evaluation of options on the appropriate land uses in the NWRA. An assessment has also been undertaken of the different parts of the NWRA against criteria to determine the most appropriate locations for industrial business use. Criteria has included a range of matters including accessibility, the availability of infrastructure, continuity with existing business areas and environmental values amongst other matters.

*A Rural-Urban Fringe zone is a transition zone between urban and rural areas which typically supports open spaces, sporting and recreation facilities and community facilities while enabling its ongoing use for agricultural and horticultural activities.