ARC's proposed Plan Change 6

MEDIA RELEASE

The ARC's proposed Plan Change 6 represents the greatest intervention into our personal freedoms and property rights ever proposed under any land use legislation in New Zealand.

Remarkably, it has gone almost entirely unnoticed – although this may not be remarkable because there has been no attempt to promote the effects of the change to the wider community. Consulation as non-consultation.

We should all be disturbed that the Mayors and Councillors of the Region have not generally been alerted to the impact of this proposed change. IT would be useful to ask them to explain to you, as a reporter, the impact of Proposed Plan Change 6 on their own district or city.

The Plan Change was notified (appropriately) on April 1, and submissions have now closed. However, some Councils have made submissions, as have a few individuals and companies, including the Centre for Resource Management Studies.

Once the submissions are published anyone can become involved by way of cross-submission.

It is difficult to believe that such a change could be seriously proposed within New Zealand, but it has been, and indeed is already being acted on.

Documents.

ARC Proposed Plan Change 6. This is over megabyte so I suggest you download it yourself from the ARC web page. Make sure you also download the Appendices which list the target densities and growth centres etc. Go to: http://www.arc.govt.nz/arc/auckland-region/auckland-region-planning- documents/auckland-region-planning-documents_home.cfm

For the relevant consequent plan changes and variations see submission form. You can also download them from the above URL.

Notice that any submissions on the District and City Council variations and changes had to be sent to the ARC rather than to the "relevant" local authority as required by the Act. It would be interesting to find out who will report on and advise on these submissions to the relevant hearings committee.

ENDS

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