Council will decide whether to accept or reject the Commissioners’ recommendation when it meets next Tuesday (7 November).

“The applicant, and anyone who submitted during the public consultation, will have 30 days to make an appeal to the Environment Court against the Council’s decision”, says Council’s Development Planning Manager Matt Bacon.

If an appeal is received, the Environment Court will hold the hearings and make the final decision.

The application was publicly notified on 6 July 2022, with the Council receiving 648 submissions and eight further submissions – 93% of submitters were opposed. A total of 36 submitters gave evidence at the subsequent hearings.

The Council made a formal submission opposing the development during the submission period last year.

“The independent Commissioners identified several concerns about the appropriateness of this proposed development. Many of which were things the Council was also concerned with.

“The Council will consider the Commissioners recommendation next Tuesday and make a final decision,” says Mayor Dan Gordon.

“Growth and development is not something you can stop, but for us it’s about sustainable growth and what was proposed would significantly change the character of the small rural village of Ohoka.

“People shared with us, both during the submission period and as part of the District Plan Review, that a reason they love living in Waimakariri is because of the uniqueness of our District and its special character, particularly rural character.”

Council will notify the public of the final outcome of Private Plan Change 31 following Council’s meeting on Tuesday 7 November.