Network Utilities Review
Overview
The Council is currently reviewing how it manages network utilities through the district plan. This review has arisen for a number of reasons, the first being the requirement for councils to give effect to new national instruments regarding network utilities, specifically:
- The National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission
- The National Environmental Standard on Electricity Transmission
- The National Environmental Standard on Telecommunications Facilities.
In addition to the need to give effect to these national instruments the council recognises that the district plan was developed in the 1990's and took a very permissive approach to both network utility and roading provisions which now needs review.
The City has also been subject to a reasonably high level of growth, meaning that some development is proposed in locations that could lead to conflict with existing or proposed network utility services and other infrastructure. Technology has also changed since the District Plan was first produced and therefore a review is timely to ensure that the District Plan is providing for the effective management of new network utility developments.
The only amendment regarding network utilities since the adoption of the district plan comprised the introduction of controls on above-ground lines (Plan Change 1).
Process
The Network Utility plan change review process will involve the following steps (indicative timelines for each step have been included):
| Initial issue identification |
Complete |
| Public forum |
Complete - held 10 November 2011 |
| Discussion document development |
Complete - Feb 2012 |
| Consultation on discussion document /draft proposed plan change |
Complete - 11 May 2012 |
| Proposed draft plan change development |
Complete - November 2012 |
| Proposed draft plan change notification |
Complete 8 March 2013 |
| Submissions |
Closed 8 March 2013 |
| Public notification of proposed plan change. |
2013 (date to be advised) |
| Hearings |
to be advised |
| Public notification of decisions |
to be advised |
| Appeals – if any |
- |
| Plan Change made operative. |
to be advised |
The Council prepared a discussion document covering all the identified issues and options, and in some cases initial preferred options for the future management of network utilities. Consultation on the discussion document closed on the 11th of May 2012. The Council held a public workshop to present the discussion document, and to provide an opportunity for discussion and feedback on Tuesday 24th of April 2012. A copy of the discussion document can be found below.
Network providers and the public were invited to take part in an open forum to discuss network utility matters on the 10th of November 2011. A number of providers and an interest group gave informative presentations. Links to their presentations can be found in the Documents section below.
The Council has completed consultation on a draft proposed network utilities plan change. Feedback will be analysed and any necessary amendments will be made prior to public notification of a proposed plan change. Copies of the draft can be downloaded below.
A proposed plan change is currently being prepared and will be publicly notified in 2013.
Documents
Enquiries
For further information please contact Matt Muspratt at the Council’s Environmental Policy Section, phone (04) 237 3841 or email mmuspratt@pcc.govt.nz.