1 Nov 2018

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Christchurch City Council has today finalised the proposal it will submit to the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister seeking an amendment to the District Plan.

An aerial shot of Christchurch's coastline.The proposal asks the Minister to use her powers under section 71 of the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Act to amend the District Plan to:

  • Clarify the policy needed to support areas where the risk of flooding is predominantly from future sea level rise.
  • Permit people with vacant sites (where houses have been demolished since the earthquakes) to rebuild houses of a similar size to what was there, without the need for a resource consent within the Residential Unit Overlay. 

The purpose of these amendments is to give effect to the Independent Hearings Panel (IHP) Decision 53 in relation to the Residential Unit Overlay and provide certainty for property owners rebuilding houses in this area.

In Decision 53, the IHP considered it appropriate for:

  • Existing residential buildings to be replaced and repaired without the need for a resource consent. The proposed new rule is consistent with this intent.
  • For consent applications for new residential units in this area to be considered where the flood risk, which is mainly due to future sea level rise,  can be appropriately mitigated

“The proposal that we have prepared provides clarity over what building activity can occur in flood-prone coastal areas of the city and should bring an end to the confusion over the planning rules and how they apply,’’ says Mayor Lianne Dalziel.

“There will still be limitations on what can be built in these locations due to the potential impact of hazards, but this change will provide greater clarity to people.”

The Mayor says the proposal will be submitted to the Minister and to Regenerate Christchurch straight away so the District Plan can be amended as soon as possible.

“The next step is for the Minister to invite public comments before she makes a decision on whether or not to accept our proposal and amend the District Plan. We’re hoping this can happen before Christmas,’’ the Mayor says.