The move is expected to save ratepayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and the Council is now planning a series of meetings around Northland to outline the new regime to the public as it moves to alter its Regional Coastal Plan to enshrine the change.
Peter Jensen, Chairman of the Regional Council’s Planning and Policy Committee, says the Council had previously planned to legally establish 18 specific areas as Aquaculture Management Areas (AMAs) suitable for marine farming.
Those changes were intended to ensure the Council complied with new Government laws - introduced last year - that ban development of new marine farms unless they are in areas formally designated as AMAs.
However, successful lobbying by the Regional Council persuaded the Government to allow the Council to last year adopt a new option for identifying AMAs – the “Invited Private Plan Change”.
Cr Jensen says under this system, would-be marine farmers – not Northland’s ratepayers – will have to pay the considerable costs of having areas zoned as an AMA, a move expected to save ratepayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Moves to designate an area as an AMA will involve a public submission and hearing process and even if an area is ultimately zoned an AMA, Cr Jensen says it will only be the first step towards setting up a new aquaculture venture within it.
If an AMA is agreed to, would-be marine farmers would then have to apply for a consent to develop a marine farm within it. This too would likely entail a public hearing of any issues involved.
Cr Jensen says via extensive public consultation and investigation work into AMAs since late 2002, the Regional Council has amassed a great deal of information that will be invaluable when evaluating whether Plan change requests should be accepted or rejected.
“The public can rest assured that the huge input that has already gone into the aquaculture debate will greatly influence the future of marine farming in Northland.”
“With the public’s help, the Council has already identified 18 areas around Northland as being potentially suitable for marine farming. The main change in our current approach is that it will now be up to applicants to apply to develop farms in these, or other, suitable parts of Northland and to meet the costs of doing so.”
Cr Jensen says among concerns expressed during previous consultation was that by proposing AMAs itself, the Regional Council was perceived as being too closely allied with the aquaculture industry.
“Those concerns have been noted and the Invited Private Plan change regime will ensure the Council’s role in aquaculture remains regulatory rather than appearing to promote an industry perspective.”
Cr Jensen says the Council is to hold several public meetings around the region in February to outline the Invited Private Plan Change process.
At those same meetings, Councillors and staff will seek comment on the initial changes the NRC wants to make to its Regional Coastal Plan to establish policy and rules governing marine farming within AMAs. Councillors and staff will also outline (and seek feedback on) proposed criteria for evaluating private Plan change requests to set up AMAs.
All meetings will start at 6pm and will be held at:
- Whangarei; Wednesday 15 February:
Northland Regional Council offices, 36 Water St.
- Paparoa; Thursday, 16 February:
War Memorial Hall, State Highway 12.
- Kaitaia; Tuesday 21 February:
REAP Centre, Puckey Ave.
- Kerikeri; Wednesday 22 February:
St John Ambulance Hall, Kerikeri Rd.
Following these meetings, one month will be allowed for written comments to be received. This information and other public feedback gathered during the public consultation will then be distilled into a report to the Council’s Planning and Policy Committee meeting in April.
Cr Jensen says information about the Plan change is to this week be mailed out to hundreds of individuals and groups that had previously registered an interest in AMAs with the Council. Further information will also soon be available on the Council’s website www.nrc.govt.nz