![]() Resource Consents Update – June 2025In this update:
Plan Change 14 – Chapter 14B Development PathwayThe Hon Chris Bishop, Minister responsible for RMA Reform, has issued his decisions on the Council’s alternative recommendations on Plan Change 14 (PC14), and these were publicly notified on 19 June. This means that all zones and rules for Policy 3 areas, which are generally within and around commercial centres, are now fully operative. We’re pleased to report that the ePlan and Property Search have been updated to incorporate these changes, except for a few rules relating to the residential Chapter 14B Pathway – specifically, some of the Chapter 14B sub-chapters and references within other chapters. These will be updated soon. Key points about the new rules
An image of the Central City Radiocommunication Pathways Planning Map, available here (PDF). Radiocommunication pathwaysAs part of the Council’s decisions on PC14, a new sub-chapter has been added to Chapter 6 General Rules and Procedures of the District Plan, to apply the Radiocommunication Pathways qualifying matter. Chapter 6.12 Radiocommunication Pathway Protection Corridors provides for the protection of the radiocommunication pathways from the Christchurch Justice and Emergency Services Precinct (CJESP) to key radiocommunication sites in the Port Hills. These pathways provide emergency and day-to-day coverage for New Zealand Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Hato Hone St John ambulance communication services, and Civil Defence. In radiocommunication networks, information is carried across distances using radio waves which travel through the air in a straight line. These waves need a certain volume of airspace around the straight line, and both the line and the surrounding airspace make up a radiocommunication pathway. The more that things get in the way of this pathway, the less reliable it becomes, because signals are reduced and become unreliable, and a pathway may even be blocked. Chapter 6.12 of the District Plan now protects these CJESP pathways from intrusions by buildings, structures (including cranes), and utilities, ensuring that vital communication links for emergency services are maintained. The pathways are identified on the Central City planning maps (pages 9-16) and the ‘Qualifying Matters’ tab in the ePlan Property Search. The maximum height limits for buildings, structures and utilities above existing ground level are included in Tables 1-3 in Rule 6.12.4.2. If you or your client are proposing to build under one of these pathways, then you’ll need to ensure that the proposed activity doesn’t exceed the maximum height limit specified in the tables. This may be a different height to that specified for the relevant zone of the site. The height limit is also inclusive of features that may block the pathways, such as radio and television aerials, finials, lift shafts, plant rooms, water tanks, air conditioning units, ventilation ducts, chimneys, antennas and similar architectural features on buildings, spires and towers. The Ministry of Justice encourages applicants to get in touch with them in the early stages of any proposal and welcomes emails to precinctmanagement@justice.govt.nz Development Contributions PolicyThe Council’s decision on the adoption of the Draft Development Contributions Policy 2025 has been deferred to allow it to be considered alongside the Central City Development Contributions Rebate Schemes, which are currently open for public consultation until 14 July 2025. A final decision on the Draft Development Contributions Policy 2025 is now expected in late August. As a result, a new policy will not be adopted until, at the earliest, 1 September 2025. In accordance with Section 198(2A) of the Local Government Act 2002, complete applications submitted before a new development contributions policy is adopted will continue to be assessed under the current Development Contributions Policy 2021. Fees for 2025/26Resource consent fees for the coming year will largely remain the same, with only the monitoring charges being updated. The new fee schedule will be updated tomorrow on our website. You received this email because you're subscribed to updates from Christchurch City Council. ![]() |