The Whakatāne District Council’s Projects and Services Committee has recommended that Chief Executive Marty Grenfell be given the delegated authority to make a submission to its proposed District Plan seeking the introduction of a “deferred marine precinct” zoning for Council-owned land on Bunyan Road.

The land at 60 Bunyan Road has, since 2008, been the subject of a memorandum of understanding with the Whakatāne Marina Society, and more recently the Whakatāne Marina Limited, for the conditional sale of the land. In late June, the Council entered into a ‘heads of agreement’ with Hopper Developments Limited and Whakatāne Marina Limited to investigate a masterplan development approach across both 60 Bunyan Road and the adjoining, residential-zoned Council property at 77 Bunyan Road. In the Operative District Plan, 60 Bunyan Road has a Coastal Protection zoning. In the Proposed District Plan, which is now open for public submissions, a proportion of the land is proposed to change to a Rural zoning.

“The masterplan concept arose as a result of a targeted marketing campaign earlier this year promoting Whakatāne’s potential as a leading retirement lifestyle destination. It involves the development of a residential subdivision, a retirement village and a linked marine precinct which we believe could play a very significant role in boosting the District economy,” says General Manager Community and Economic Development, Julian Reweti. “When the Proposed District Plan was finalised, the masterplan concept had not taken shape, so this submission aims to make it clear that the land at 60 Bunyan Road is earmarked for future marina-related development.”

He says the submission is likely to also include requests to alter the Piripai Structure Plan to accommodate the combined retirement and residential development envisaged. “Submissions on the proposed District Plan close at 5:00 pm on Friday, 13 September. Anyone who wants to express their view on the ‘deferred marine precinct’ zoning is advised to make a submission so that they can be involved in the hearing process. There will be a further submissions stage in late November. Regardless though, the Council is committed to consulting as widely as possible on the proposed zoning change before the further submission process.”

Mr Reweti stresses that any future change to the deferred zoning would still require a formal plan change, with full opportunities for public submissions. Any future resource consents sought for the proposed development would likewise be open to public submissions.

“To ensure that there is no perceived conflict of interest in this process, we have appointed an independent planner to guide the marine precinct zoning submission. Submissions for and against the zoning change request will also be heard by an independent commissioner,” Mr Reweti adds.

Anyone wanting further information on the submission process should ring the Council on 07 306 0500.