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 developing a catchment planning programme, Our Freshwater Future, working with local communities to develop broad-based action plans for continued improvements to freshwater quality in the region. Our Freshwater Future isn't focused on regulation but will, in time, inform future Plan changes. The first of these processes will begin later this year and will focus on the Manawatū Catchment.
Notification before the end of the year
Commencement of Manawatū Catchment Strategy process
To find out more about Plan Change 2 click here
We expect to carry out a further plan change, focused on the One Plan's nutrient management provisions for new intensive farming land uses, during 2020.
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 15 July 2019