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Draft Plan Change 1

Regional Coastal Environmental Plan - Coastal Occupation Charges

Bay of Plenty Regional Council has prepared Draft Plan Change No.1 - Coastal Occupation Charges (50 KB, pdf) to the Regional Coastal Environment Plan, in which Council proposes not to introduce a coastal occupation charging regime at this time.

There are two main reasons for this:

  • Council wishes to make other changes to the Regional Coastal Environment Plan, but Section 401(A)(4) of the Resource Management Act (RMA) requires regional councils to state in the first coastal plan change made after 30 June 2007, whether or not they are introducing a coastal occupation charging regime. A plan change must be undertaken whether the council decides to introduce charges or not. This 30 June 2007 deadline means that no other plan changes can be notified until coastal occupation charges have been addressed. Council has therefore resolved to state that it will not introduce a charging regime at this time.
  • Legal and policy uncertainties in the provisions of the RMA make it too difficult to implement a sound occupation charging regime at this time. These include a lack of clarity regarding the nature of coastal occupation charges, the lack of any presumption to charge, the absence of a nationally consistent charging methodology, and equity issues. This view is shared by regional councils and acknowledged by central government.

What are Coastal Occupation Charges?

Coastal occupation charges are a form of rental for the private use of public space within the coastal marine area. The charge provides compensation for the loss of opportunities to use and enjoy the coastal marine area resulting from activities and structures.

Under the RMA, all regional councils must decide whether or not to introduce coastal occupation charges, and once a decision is made, change their Regional Coastal Plan to include their decision.

Have your say on the Draft Plan Change

Before formally notifying the proposed plan change, Bay of Plenty Regional Council would like to know what you think about the proposal.  Forward any comments you may have on the draft plan change by 30 October 2009 to:

Bay of Plenty Regional Council
C/- Harrison Grierson Consultants Limited
PO Box 336
Whakatane

Attention: Tim Fergusson

t.fergusson@harrisongrierson.com
Ph: 07 308 5478
Fax: 07 308 4907

Following public feedback, Council will finalise the proposed plan change, taking into account the comments it receives. Further opportunities to comment will be available by making formal submissions on the proposed plan change.

For queries or further information regarding the proposed plan change, please contact Tim Fergusson at the above contact details.