Change 1 to Chapter 6 of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement

In April 2020, the Minister for the Environment directed us to enter the Streamlined Planning Process (PDF File, 38.03KB) for this change.

In August 2020, the Minister granted us a six-month extension to publicly notify the proposed change to the CRPS (PDF File, 148.32KB).

Notice of the amendment to the Minister’s direction (PDF File, 32.08KB) has been published in the New Zealand Gazette. 

The streamlined planning process was introduced through amendments to the RMA in April 2017. It is a Minister-directed process intended to give flexibility in plan-making processes and timeframes.

Using a streamlined planning process has the potential to reduce the time and cost associated with implementing changes to RMA plans, with fewer mandatory process steps and limited scope for appeals.

The Minister’s Direction includes pre-notification consultation with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (the iwi authority) and Ngāi Tūāhuriri. This was undertaken in May-June 2020.

In accordance with the timeframes set out in the Minister’s direction, the proposed change was publicly notified on 16 January 2021.

• Proposed Change 1 to Chapter 6 CRPS (PDF file, 933.85KB)
• Proposed Amendment to Map A (PDF file, 474.2KB)
• Section 32 Evaluation Report (PDF file, 1.64MB)
• Information leaflet (PDF file, 463.36KB)

Public notification of the Proposed Change provided an opportunity for anyone who wished to comment to do so by making a written submission. The period for written submissions was open from Saturday 16 January until Monday 15 February 2021.

A total of 54 written submissions were received. These can be viewed in full below.

A summary of written submissions (PDF file, 1.19MB) and the Council’s response to individual submission points has also been prepared. This is available ordered by theme/provision (PDF file,1.19MB) or by submitter (PDF file, 1.17MB).

The final step under the Minister’s Direction is the submission of a written recommendations report, showing how submissions have been considered and the changes recommended to the proposed planning instrument. The report must be provided, together with all other documents required by clause 83(1) of Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act, for the Minister’s consideration, no later than 30 working days after the close of submissions.

On 28 March the Council submitted its written recommendations report and other required documents to the Minister for consideration. In accordance with the Minister’s Direction, the draft recommendations report was peer reviewed by an independent commissioner. The commissioner’s comments were then addressed or incorporated into the final report.

• Report to the Minister for the Environment on Proposed Change 1 to Chapter 6 of the CRPS, March 2021 (PDF file,796.32KB)
• Appendix 1 – Proposed Change 1 to Chapter 6 of the CRPS, incorporating the Council’s recommendations (PDF file, 935.49KB)
• Appendix 2 – Summary report of written submissions (PDF file, 1.19MB)
• Appendix 3 – Section 32 evaluation report (PDF file, 1.64MB)
• Appendix 4 – Summary of the actions undertaken by the Council in accordance with the streamlined planning process and the Minister’s Statement of Expectations (PDF file, 175.3KB)
• Appendix 5 – Legal and statutory framework – compliance with the requirements of relevant national direction and the RMA (including section 32AA evaluation report) (PDF file, 346.54KB)
• Appendix 6 – Minister’s Directions (PDF file, 70.63KB)
• Appendix 7 – Technical peer review report prepared by Hon. Lester Chisholm for Environment Canterbury (PDF file, 827.56KB)

The Minister for the Environment has approved Proposed Change 1 to Chapter 6 of the CRPS.

• View the Minister’s decision, dated 28 May 2021 (PDF file, 85.33KB). 
• View the public notice (PDF file, 40.59KB).