19 August 2019

Media: NZ Farmers Weekly

Topic: Environment Court interim decision re PC10 hearing

Enquiry

Reporter requested comment/reaction from Rotorua Lakes Council on the interim decision which followed part 1 of a two part hearing.

Response

Rotorua Lakes Council, Group Manager Strategy, Jean-Paul Gaston:

Rotorua Lakes Council joined the appeal of CNI Iwi Holdings Limited with other parties; the Māori Trustee, Te Pūmautanga o Te Arawa Trust, Te Maru o Ngāti Rangiwewehi Iwi Authority, Te Kōmiti Nui o Ngāti Whakaue, Hancock Forest Management (NZ) Limited, PF Olsen Limited and Kaingaroa Timberlands Partnership, because of our concerns that PC10 did not support the longer-term sustainability of the catchment and excluded forestry and under-developed land from future development potential.

Rotorua Lakes Council has also been involved to allow for future district growth, particularly as and when rural land changes to urban land use.

This decision moves us to Stage 2 of the appeals hearing which will address the specific matters directed by the Court and finalise the provisions of PC10.

In our view the Court has highlighted a number of issues we were concerned about and we are keen to work with the Regional Council as to how these can be addressed.

NOTE: See Environment Court interim decision HERE. See release from Federated Farmers regarding interim decision HEREand release from BOP Regional Council HERE