One Plan Reviews and Changes

Planning documents must evolve if they are to remain effective, and the One Plan (which has been fully in operation since December 2014) is no different. This can be prompted by a new or changed policy direction or standards from central government, or can follow an evaluation of how well the regional policy statement and regional plans are working. If an evaluation shows that something could be improved, a review is then carried out to work out what options will best deliver the Plan's objectives, and whether changing the Plan is sensible.

Even if evaluations don't reveal any issues, the Resource Management Act requires that every part of every planning document has to be reviewed at least every 10 years. Amendments may also be made without a formal plan change process when required by a national policy statement or environmental standard, for example.

Horizons is also working to implement central government's Essential Freshwater package through a programme called Oranga Wai Our Freshwater Future.
 

One Plan Evaluation

The One Plan was made operative in December 2014. Since then we have evaluated the following topics:

Freshwater quality (2016). This led to a more detailed evaluation of the One Plan's nutrient management provisions (2018).
 

Current Plan Change Processes

Existing Intensive Farming Land Uses Plan Change (Plan Change 2)

Changes to the One Plan regulation of existing intensive farming land uses have been adopted by Horizons Regional Council.

Recommended decisions on submissions by an independent hearing panel were accepted by Council on 13 April 2021. These decisions will be open to appeal by submitters. A full copy of the decisions on Plan Change 2 can be viewed here. 
 

Completed changes to the One Plan

Plan Amendment 1 - Forestry (2018)

This minor amendment to comply with the National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry took effect from 24 September 2018. Rule 13-3 and the definition of 'forestry' are amended by Plan Amendment 1. You can see the amendments in the report and Annexes A (Chapter 13) and B (Glossary) to the Strategy and Policy Committee meeting on 14 August 2018.
 

Plan Change 1 (2016)

This plan change took effect on 28 April 2016. It inserted a new policy into Chapter 14 of the One Plan (required by the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management), consequential amendments and correction of some minor errors. You can see the amendments made and the reasons for them in the report to the Strategy and Policy Committee meeting on 12 April 2016 and its annex.
 

Last updated 13 April 2021.