Hastings District Council Plan Change Process Fair and Robust

Hastings District Council has received notice from Hill Country Corporation Limited (HCCL) that it has withdrawn its application for a private plan change at Ocean Beach - Plan Change 45.

The application was to change the District Plan to allow 1000 homes to be built at Ocean Beach.

In response to a number of comments made in a release by HCCL, Hastings District Council’s Group Manager; Resource Management, Mike Maguire says it is a matter of record that the council was dealing with the private plan change request in as independent a manner as is possible.

“This included the use of independent technical advisors who were charged with reviewing the proposal, reporting on the applications and submissions for and against it to a panel of independent commissioners.

As with every application for private plan change, this application was being rigorously tested against Council’s District Plan and the Resource Management Act.

That would be the expectation of any proposal, particularly one of such a scale and interest to the community.

The Hawke’s Bay community clearly has an affinity with Ocean Beach, such that any development proposal would always give rise to strong views and passionate response.

This is reflected in the large number of submissions received, both opposed and for the plan change.

It is also a matter of record that we had been proceeding on the basis of commencing a hearing at the end of October and at the request of HCCL had postponed that hearing.

HCCL chose to exercise its right under the Resource Management Act to apply for the private plan change and they have exercised their right to withdraw.

It is not appropriate for me to surmise the outcome the process may have delivered, nor the reason for the withdrawal of the private plan change.

ends

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