Stock Control Bylaw
The Stratford District Council has reviewed the Stock Control Bylaw as the bylaw has now been in place for five years. The review has found that only a minor clarification of one clause and the deletion of the now expired transitional requirements are required.
If you wish to make a submission on the reviewed bylaw please do so in writing to Mike Avery, Planning & Regulatory Manager, Stratford District Council or by email to mavery@stratford.govt.nz before 10 September 2010.
You can view the Statement of Proposal here.
Stratford District Plan Rolling Review Part 1
Indigenous Forest and Biodiversity
The Stratford District Council has reviewed the provisions of the Stratford District Plan in regard to indigenous forest and biodiversity. This review is Part I of the Rolling Review programmed from 2009. Having considered submissions received on the previously released Discussion Document, Council has now formally released the proposals stemming from that review as the Proposed Variation 1 to the Proposed Stratford District Plan 2009.
The Variation proposes a suite of changes to the Proposed District Plan in regard to the way in which wetlands, indigenous vegetation and indigenous fauna are managed. These changes are to allow the Council to comply with the Section 6 and Section 7 matters under the Resource Management Act 1991. In summary the proposals include:
- A widened policy scope to include significant indigenous fauna.
- A schedule of wetlands and significant habitats of indigenous fauna.
- Rules and widened standards protecting wetlands and significant habitats of indigenous fauna.
- A new suite of rules allowing for protection of indigenous vegetation:
- Permitted activity status, with no consent required, for indigenous vegetation disturbance under Farm Management Plans and other limited circumstances necessary for the operation of essential infrastructure.
- Permitted activity status, with no consent required, for the disturbance of indigenous vegetation, including its removal, where it is less than 3m in height, provided it is not within a significant habitat of indigenous fauna or within 20m of a water body.
- Sustainable forest management plans and permits will require resource consents.
- The disturbance of indigenous vegetation 3m or greater in height will require resource consent.
- The manuka rules are deleted, except for the non-complying rule relating to manuka and kanuka 3m or greater in height. Otherwise manuka and kanuka are dealt with as with any other indigenous vegetation, i.e., under 3m in height it can be cleared provided that it is not within a significant habitat of indigenous fauna or within 20m of a water body.
- Ecological assessments will be required for all resource consent applications relating to indigenous vegetation. Consent applicants will be liable for the cost of these.
The new requirements relating to sustainable forest management plans and permits granted through the Ministry of Forestry will have a direct effect on the management of the eastern hill country forest in particular. It is noted that few of the existing plans and permits were actually legally exercised under the Stratford District Plan 1997 due to their locations next to reserve areas and therefore will be required to comply with the proposed rules.
The remaining standard and rule changes add clarity to the existing requirements but also include wetlands and habitats of indigenous fauna within those requirements.
This review affects 45% of the land area of the Stratford District and it is important that landowners and other affected persons are aware of the proposals and comment on them where necessary.
You can view the full report online here.
Submissions will be accepted up until 06 October 2010. A submission form is included in the above report, although this may be supplemented by other material. All submissions must be in writing either to the Stratford District Council or by email to mavery@stratford.govt.nz
Refuse Bylaw Review
Background Information
1. The Stratford District Council has reviewed its Refuse Bylaw in accordance with Sections 158 and 159 of the Local Government Act 2002.
2. The reviewed Refuse Bylaw, is now available for public submissions to be made on it.
Summary of Proposal
3. The Bylaw which has been reviewed is: Refuse Bylaw 2005.
Statement Of Proposal
4. The full Statement of Proposal, containing the reviewed bylaws and the review report, is available from Wednesday 15 September 2010 at:
- Stratford District Council, Miranda Street, Stratford.
- Stratford Public Library, Prospero Place, Stratford.
Further information is available, if required, from:
Mike Avery
Planning & Regulatory Manager
Stratford District Council
P O Box 320
STRATFORD 4352
(06) 765 6099
Public Submissions
5. All submissions are to be in writing to the Stratford District Council.
6. Submissions may be made on the reviewed Bylaw at any time until 4.30 pm on the closing date of Friday 15 October 2010.
7. Submitters will be given the opportunity to speak to their submissions on Tuesday 23 November 2010. It is Council’s intention to make its decisions on submissions on Tuesday 14 December 2010 and to subsequently adopt the bylaw incorporating those decisions pursuant to the special consultative procedure of the Local Government Act 2002.
