Planning

The planning team centres its work around the Central Otago District Plan and the Resource Management Act 1991.

The Central Otago District Plan provides objectives, policies and rules to manage the use and development of natural and physical resources in the Central Otago district. This framework is based on the provision of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The RMA legislation establishes how New Zealand manages our environment and people.

Our planning team endeavours to provide sound advice to customers while they navigate through Resource Management legislation and District Plan policies.

What we do

The Central Otago Council’s planning team can help you with the following planning elements including:

• How to comply with the District Plan and where to find information
• Applying for Resource Consents such as Land-use Consent and Subdivision Consent
• Applying for Deemed Permitted Boundary Application (DPBA) and Outline Plans/Outline Plan Waivers
• Understanding of RMA legislation and other legislation where it may be relevant
• Providing Information and guidance on heritage buildings and precincts; residential zoning and resource areas; and plan changes.
• Project Information Memorandum (PIM) reports.

How can we help?

We have two new planning forms, which go directly to our Planning team:

1. Request a pre-application meeting - Online Form - this form is aimed at people who already have plans in place but want to run through them with a planner before submitting their Resource Consent application.

2. General Enquiry - Planning - Online Form - use this form for all general planning enquiries, or to tell us if you are having trouble finding the information you need from our website. We will contact you to help.

Alternatively, book a meeting over the phone or in person with one of our planning officers. We endeavour to answer all queries within 1-2 business days. However, due to staff limitations and sickness our current wait time for the processing of applications can be delayed up to 4-5 days.

Need a review before you apply? Our duty planner is available to assist you with a 15-minute consultation prior to lodging a resource consent application.

• Please have your proposal ready before you come and see us so we can help evaluate all the elements of your project.
• Please ensure all enquiries include preferred contact details and accurate description of the site in question (valuation number, rapid number, or full legal description) and any other details relevant to the enquiry.