New rules for building homes in Te Puke and Ōmokoroa

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We’re making changes to our District Plan to enable more homes to be built faster, to support the needs of our growing and diverse community.

The changes are being driven by central government. Nine density standards (medium density residential standards or MDRS) have been formally notified on 20 August 2022 and have immediate legal effect.

These standards are being introduced around the motu (country) in relevant residential zones in major cities including Tauranga, Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, and Christchurch. Other areas with acute housing needs may also be introducing the standards.

Within the Western Bay the nine new standards are only being applied in Te Puke and Ōmokoroa as they are the only towns that fit the brief for central government’s new law, as towns with a population that is planned to be more than 10,000 people.

We're also introducing a number of other rules for Ōmokoroa and Te Puke to ensure that everything you told us you love about your neighbourhood is protected. These rules do not have immediate legal effect and are subject to a formal plan change process. Read about these changes in detail at westernbay.govt.nz/plan-changes

What’s happening now?

The plan change was formally notified on 20 August 2022. The time for making ‘original’ submissions closed on Friday 16 September 2022, followed by an opportunity to make further submissions which closed on 14 November 2022. A report being prepared by Council will provide recommendations to address the issues raised. This report will be considered by the hearings panel.

Hearings were anticipated for May. However, following meetings with different submitters to discuss their points, a number of issues raised require further time to resolve.

More information about the amended timing will soon be confirmed along with the panel members and timeframes for circulating the report and submitter evidence and making decisions.

All submitters will be given an opportunity to present their submission. A decision will then be issued including the reasons for accepting or rejecting submissions.

More information about these processes can be found on the Ministry for the Environments webpage - Every Day Guide to the Resource Management Act

Our journey so far

Earlier this year, before the new rules were introduced, we sought your feedback. We asked you to imagine Te Puke and Ōmokoroa with more than one home on some properties, units in backyards, and some houses being replaced with townhouses.

We want to make sure we plan things right, while protecting the things we love about Te Puke and Ōmokoroa.

Below is a summary of what you told us.

Further info

For more information and to read our FAQ's, head to our website.

We’re making changes to our District Plan to enable more homes to be built faster, to support the needs of our growing and diverse community.

The changes are being driven by central government. Nine density standards (medium density residential standards or MDRS) have been formally notified on 20 August 2022 and have immediate legal effect.

These standards are being introduced around the motu (country) in relevant residential zones in major cities including Tauranga, Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, and Christchurch. Other areas with acute housing needs may also be introducing the standards.

Within the Western Bay the nine new standards are only being applied in Te Puke and Ōmokoroa as they are the only towns that fit the brief for central government’s new law, as towns with a population that is planned to be more than 10,000 people.

We're also introducing a number of other rules for Ōmokoroa and Te Puke to ensure that everything you told us you love about your neighbourhood is protected. These rules do not have immediate legal effect and are subject to a formal plan change process. Read about these changes in detail at westernbay.govt.nz/plan-changes

What’s happening now?

The plan change was formally notified on 20 August 2022. The time for making ‘original’ submissions closed on Friday 16 September 2022, followed by an opportunity to make further submissions which closed on 14 November 2022. A report being prepared by Council will provide recommendations to address the issues raised. This report will be considered by the hearings panel.

Hearings were anticipated for May. However, following meetings with different submitters to discuss their points, a number of issues raised require further time to resolve.

More information about the amended timing will soon be confirmed along with the panel members and timeframes for circulating the report and submitter evidence and making decisions.

All submitters will be given an opportunity to present their submission. A decision will then be issued including the reasons for accepting or rejecting submissions.

More information about these processes can be found on the Ministry for the Environments webpage - Every Day Guide to the Resource Management Act

Our journey so far

Earlier this year, before the new rules were introduced, we sought your feedback. We asked you to imagine Te Puke and Ōmokoroa with more than one home on some properties, units in backyards, and some houses being replaced with townhouses.

We want to make sure we plan things right, while protecting the things we love about Te Puke and Ōmokoroa.

Below is a summary of what you told us.

Further info

For more information and to read our FAQ's, head to our website.