Public notice of Proposed Regional Policy Statement for Otago

The Otago Regional Council gives notice that it has prepared the Proposed Regional Policy Statement for Otago (Proposed RPS). The Proposed RPS sets out how we will achieve integrated management of Otago’s natural and physical resources.

The Proposed RPS has four outcomes:

• Kai Tahu values, rights and interests are recognised and kaitiakitaka (exercise of customary custodianship) is expressed
• Otago has high quality natural resources and ecosystems
• Communities in Otago are resilient, safe and healthy
• People are able to use and enjoy Otago’s natural and built environment
  
  

The Proposed RPS aims to consider the needs of all of Otago’s communities by:

• Addressing matters of regional importance
• Focusing on values and effects of using resources, and land use activities
• Requiring environmental bottomlines to be set
• Enabling use of resources, and land use activities, unless there is good reason for them to be avoided or managed
• Reflecting the connections in the natural and built environment
• Using common descriptions for values to help make consistent planning decisions
• Assisting city, district and regional councils to work well together.
  
  

The Proposed RPS may directly affect you as it contains proposals regarding:

• Kai tahu values, rights and interests in planning processes
• Significant values (e.g. indigenous vegetation and natural landscapes)
• Natural hazards, climate change and sea level rise
• Land use change in dry catchments
• Air quality
• Managing growth of urban areas
  
  

The Proposed RPS and Section 32 Evaluation Report may be inspected at:

• www.orc.govt.nz
• Otago Regional Council offices:
  - 70 Stafford Street, Dunedin
  - William Fraser Building, Dunorling Street, Alexandra
  - The Station, First Floor, corner Shotover and Camp Streets, Queenstown
• All public libraries, and city and district council offices throughout Otago
  
  

Any person may make a submission on the Proposed RPS

You may do so by sending a written submission to the Otago Regional Council. The submission must be in Form 5 and state whether you wish to be heard in support of your submission. Submission forms (Form 5) can be found on our website here and are available by phoning 0800 474 082.

Submissions close at 5pm, Friday 24 July 2015

Email to: rps@orc.govt.nz
Online: www.orc.govt.nz
Post to: Freepost 497, Proposed RPS, Otago Regional Council, Private Bag 1954, Dunedin 9054
Deliver to:

Otago Regional Council offices at:

• 70 Stafford Street, Dunedin
• Dunorling Street, Alexandra
• The Station, First Floor, Corner Shotover and Camp Streets, Queenstown
  
  

The process under the Resource Management Act 1991 is:

• After submissions close, Council prepares a summary of decisions requested and publicly notifies it
• Certain persons may make a further submission supporting or opposing submissions already made
• You may speak in support of your submission at a hearing
• The Council gives notice of its decision on the proposal, including its reasons
• Every person making a submission has the right of appeal to the Environment Court
  
  

Fraser McRae
Director Policy and Resource Planning