Plan Change 3 - Mangrove Management in Northland
You spoke, we listened
The Northland Regional Council (NRC) has been made increasingly aware that mangroves are encroaching into previously uncolonised areas within the coastal marine area of Northland.
To enable communities affected by this encroachment to provide for their social, economic, and cultural wellbeing, the Northland Regional Council prepared Plan Change 3.
Plan Change 3 has been developed to provide greater opportunity to remove or prune mangroves in specific circumstances.
Such work would require a resource consent with the application process taking into account relevant provisions of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement and the Regional Policy Statement for Northland.
Where is the plan change process now?
The Hearing on submissions on Plan Change 3 (Mangrove Management) was held in Whangarei on 23 February 2006. Public notification of the decisions of the Council was given on 18 March 2006 and all submitters were sent copies of the Decision Reports at that time.
Two appeals on the decisions were received by the Environment Court; however one appeal was struck out by the Court, as the appellant failed to respond to requests for information by the Court. The Council is currently in negotiations with the remaining appellant.
What happens next?
Appeals are usually resolved either by consent order with the agreement of the parties, or by a decision of the Environment Court after a hearing. Once the appeals have been resolved, the Council will adopt the plan change, with any amendments, and send it to the Minister of Conservation for approval. Following approval by the Minister of Conservation, the Council will publicly notify the date on which the plan change becomes operative.
Where can I go to view the Decision Reports and text of Plan Change 3 as amended by the decisions?
Hard copy versions of the Decision Report and text of Plan Change 3 as amended by the decisions can be located at public libraries in the region or at the following Northland Regional Council offices:
Whangarei – 36 Water Street, Phone (09) 438 4639
Dargaville – 61B Victoria Street, Phone (09) 439 3300
Opua – Unit 10, Opua Marine Park, Phone (09) 402 7516
Kaitaia – 192 Commerce Street, Phone (09) 408 6600
View the Decision Reports and revised text for Plan Change 3 (Mangrove Management) online
You can download or view a copy of the Decision Reports and revised text for Plan Change 3 (Mangrove Management) by clicking on the links below.
Decisions of the Hearing Committee PC3 (400KB)
Final Text - PC3 (58KB)
Who can I contact?
If you have any questions or queries regarding Plan Change 3, please contact:
Coastal Planning Team
Northland Regional Council
Freephone: 0800 002 004
Email: mailroom@nrc.govt.nz