Regional planning system introduced in bill

Press, 30 August 1977, Page 17

Regional planning system introduced in bill

PA Wellington. A new regional planning system designed to coordinate central and local government planning is contained in the Town and Country Planning Bill introduced in Parliament. The bill is the first full review and consolidation of the Town and Country Planning Act since it was passed in 1953. The regional planning authorities are given responsibility for formulating policies on issues of regional significance, particularly such matters as regional strategy for urban and rural development, the broad distribution of major land and water use, regional reserves, and major communications networks. Local authorities would determine their own planning policies within the regional framework. The Minister of Works and Development will have to approve regional planning schemes. Once they are approved, the Crown would be obliged to observe and support regional and district schemes except where national interest overrides other considerations. The Minister of Works and Development (Mr W. L. Young) who is responsible for the bill, said it was generally agreed that the present regional planning provisions had not. proved adequate. “Concern at the lack of effective regional planning has been expressed by a number of bodies including the Municipal Association,” he said. The new planning system provided for the first time, statutory links between national, regional

and local interests. It also presented regions, through united and regional councils, the opportunity to communicate with and directly influence central Government far more effectively than in the past. “There is the potential for each region to have far more say in determining its own future development,” Mr Young said. “The bill thus represents a shift in emphasis from central to local government in accordance with this Government’s policy.” The procedures set out for preparing, changing or reviewing regional planning schemes were designed to encourage the greatest amount of public interest, the Minister said. Before the scheme is prepared regional planning authorities are required to call for submissions from any interested body or person, then when a draft scheme has been prepared, the public are again invited to comment. There would be a further opportunity for public comment when the scheme was submitted to the Minister. The bill provides for the appointment of regional land resource advisory committees consisting of

land use experts who would advise regional planning authorities. The bill basically retains the present system of district planning, but Mr Young said changes had been made to reduce administrative costs and delays and simplify procedures. Greater opportunities are provided for public participation in the administration of district schemes. These include an extension of the rights of property owners and interested bodies such as progressive associations and environment groups to be heard by councils and the planning tribunal, formerly the town and Country Plan ning Appeal Board. Mr Young said that the bill was based on the recommendations of the Town and Country Planning Review Committee and also incorporated measures proposed in the National Party’s election manifesto. The review committee had concluded that the basic system of local planning was sound and well suited to New Zealand conditions. But it considered that: The act needed simplifying and arranging in a more logical sequence. Third party rights to participate in planning should be still further extended. Environmental consid- ' erations should be brought directly into the planning process and More effective links should be created between planning at national. regional and local levels. “The bill aims to achieve all these recommendations,” Mr Young said. He said there had been 12 amending acts since the Town and Country Planning Act was passed in 1953. “This has led to various amendments being inserted into the principal act in rather a piecemeal fasion with resulting confusion and in some cases ambiguities,” Mr Young said. The bill contains a new maritime planning section under which the use of coastal waters is to be planned by a Maritime Planning Authority within the framework of a regional planning scheme. The authority may be a regional or united council, a local territorial authority, a harbour board or any other statutory organisation as decided by the Minister of Works and Development and the Minister of Transport after considering submissions from interested parties. The bill gives more status and standing to the Town and Country Planning Appeal Board, now to be called the planning tribunal. A new feature is that the Minister may refer

major issues to the tribunal for a public inquiry. Mr Young said that the bill gave more emphasis to environmental considerations. This included the provision of clearer powers for councils to protect bush and trees and other special areas and to control the design and appearance of buildings.

The powers of councils to require the removal or reduction of objectional elements such as noise, smoke, vibration and effluent are strengthened in the bill.

Groups concerned with the environment would have wider rights of participation when regional policies and major works were referred to an independent public inquiry.

Mr Young said recognition of the National Party’s concern to limit the size of cities was provided by declaring the avoidance of the unnecessary expansion of cities to be a matter of national importance.

The special relationship between Maori culture and institutions and their ancestral land is also declared to be a matter of national importance. Also declared to be matters of national importance in preparing and implementing planning schemes are the protection

and enhancement of the physical and social environment, and the conservation and wise use of New Zealand’s resources.

Mr M. A. Connelly (Lab., Wigram) said the Opposition welcomed the appearance of the bill “at long last.” Drafting of the bill had been well advanced at the time of the change of Government in 1975, he said.

Mr M. Rata (Lab., Northern Maori) complained that the bill’s provisions did nothing to improve the position of Maori communities adversely affected by planning schemes.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) said many city and borough councils at present felt impotent to do what people wanted done in regional planning. Dr A. M. Finlay (Lab., Henderson) said he was pleased the bill gave more freedom to local bodies to make greater provision for environmental factors. The bill was referred to a special parliamentary Select Committee which will hear evidence on it. It will then go to the Lands and Agriculture Select Committee.

Mr Young said he hoped it would be possible for the bill to be passed this session.