Spotlight on farmland
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
A new policy to protect farmland could put the brakes on new urban developments in North Canterbury.
The new National Policy Statement on highly productive land, announced by the Government on Sunday, September 18, with immediate effect, requires developers to demonstrate land they wish to develop does not contain ‘‘highly productive soil’’.
Councils have three years to develop soil maps for their districts.
Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said the intention of the new NPS was good, ‘‘but the execution will be a little more problematic’’.
‘‘It’s a good thing that this is in place because it means this land can continue to produce food instead of houses.
‘‘We have to take account of the NPS now, but the mapping is not in place, so there will be a whole process to work through.
‘‘But I think the rush to develop land might be over as the developer will now need to show that the land is not highly productive.’’
Waimakariri District Council development planning manager Matt Bacon said his team was still trying to ‘‘work through the implications’’ of the new NPS and what it meant for the District Plan review.
The proposed District Plan, notified last year, had rural residential options in the eastern part of the district, with minimum four hectare blocks outside the main towns.
Farmland was protected in the western part of the district with the rural zone comprising a 20ha limit.
‘‘There are still some questions around productive land in rural lifestyle areas, but it still has to be 4ha minimum, so it can still be used for productive use,’’ Bacon said.
Kaikōura District Council strategy, policy and planning manager Matt Hoggard said the council was still reviewing what the NPS would mean for the district.
But he welcomed the NPS’s intentions.
‘‘Until our land is mapped by the [Canterbury] regional council we can’t be sure how it will effect us.
‘‘Our initial impression is that the NPS’s effects may be useful for the district, although we are not anticipating an extensive impact in our region.’’
The NPS used Landcare Research’s five soil categories, with the first three considered ‘‘highly productive’’.
Highly productive land would need to be identified in regional policy statements and district plans.
The NPS restricted rezoning of highly productive land into urban, but an exemption could apply to tier one and two councils if the land was needed ‘‘to give effect to the National Policy Statement on Urban Development’’.
The Waimakariri district is tier one.
The NPS also discouraged rezoning highly productive land as rural lifestyle.
* Public interest journalism funded through NZ on Air.
Poll: Is it rude to talk on the phone on a bus?
Buses can be a relaxing way to get home if you have a seat and enough space. However, it can be off-putting when someone is taking a phone call next to you.
Do you think it's inconsiderate for people to have lengthy phone calls on a bus? Vote in the poll, and add your comments below.
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64.3% Yes
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33.2% No
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2.5% Other - I'll share below
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Paddy Gower seeks ‘bloody great Cantab’
The Kiwi journalist drilling deep into the country’s biggest issues is on a mission to find the local greats.
Paddy Gower is looking for the Good Kiwi in every region to feature in his show, The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour.
To nominate a Good Kiwi, email reporters@press.co.nz with the name and a description of why your nominee should win. You an also share the local issues you think Paddy needs to tackle in the comments below.
It could be the woman whose knitting circle has made 3800 items for victims of domestic violence, the guy running the length of Aotearoa for mental health, or the woman with terminal cancer who spends her time campaigning to raise awareness and save lives.
“Basically I am looking for ... a bloody great Cantab who just gets on and gets things done. The criteria is somebody who has a positive attitude and makes the community a better place," Gower said.
“I will give this person the 'Big Ups' they deserve, and the community can celebrate them with me.”
A Good Kiwi will feature in each of Gower’s live shows in 14 centres through November and December. He will name the Cantabrian Good Kiwi at his Christchurch show on the evening of Friday, November 22, at St Margaret’s College.
The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour is a sort of book tour, sort of stand-up comedy, some journalistic yarns and memoir, and some motivational speaking - with a fair bit of local in each show.
Gower also wants to know about topics of interest in the region.
“I’m ... going to be taking on a big issue facing Canterbury and offering up solutions.”
A stinky suburb, a neighbourhood needing a round-about or a cathedral in disrepair - “I will make your views count”, he said.
“I'm touring the nation to spread positivity, optimism and good vibes.”
*For tickets to the The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour visit paddygower.co.nz
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