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Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Reaction to plan change halt mixed
Dunedin residents' concerns about multi-unit development have been caught up in sweeping halts to plan changes, leaving one city councillor "extremely unhappy". Across the South, councils are at odds in their reaction to a government announcement halting some plan changes, ahead of further resource management reform. One council said the decision was "unexpected"; others said it was anticipated or already incorporated into decision-making — one staff member called it "another piece of track on the reform rollercoaster". Dunedin City Council city development manager Anna Johnson said the change's most immediate impact would likely be on Plan Change 2 — a review of the city's heritage provisions and design of multi-unit development. A report recommending work on the plan change ceased would be considered at the council's August 12 meeting. Cr Sophie Barker said "huge amounts" of work and community consultation had been done. "I'm extremely unhappy that Plan Change 2 is caught in the halt," she said. She remained concerned about central government interference in local decision-making. "Seventy-three percent of people surveyed thought more should be done to improve the design of multi-unit developments in relation to effects on streetscape amenity or neighbourhood character," she said. "This is a growing issue of concern." Dr Johnson said the council had anticipated the halt to future plan changes — the wider impacts on council were still being considered, but there would be "substantial work" in preparing for Resource Management Act (RMA) reform. On Wednesday, Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop announced the government would stop "unnecessary" plan changes, legislation expected to be in place by August — suspending requirements for councils to review plans or notify new plan changes, unless they met exemption criteria. Too much time was spent on plan processes which would likely be incomplete or "largely wasted" under the government's RMA replacement. Queenstown Lakes District Council planning and development general manager David Wallace said the changes were "another piece of track on the reform rollercoaster". At a planning and strategy committee meeting yesterday, he said staff would continue their work, while assessing what exemptions would be allowed. Waitaki District Council heritage and planning manager David Campbell said the announcement was "unexpected". "[It] would have benefited all councils if it had been made clear earlier in the resource management reform programme," he said. The council would seek clarification from the Ministry for the Environment to determine how the change would affect its notified proposed district plan. Environment Southland strategy and regulation general manager Hayley Fitchett said the council had already paused work on two key pieces of local regulation while final changes were made to the new system — the council was focused on "a smooth transition". Gore District Council operations general manager Dave Bainbridge-Zafar said the council was in a "good position" — the change did not affect its work programme. "We still intend to notify decisions on the proposed district plan by January, on the presumption that [Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds] grants our recent extension request." A Central Otago District Council spokesperson also said the changes would not affect its work programme. "In anticipation of reforms, we were not proposing to draft or notify any plan changes until after national direction is in place and the new legislation is introduced." — Additional reporting Guy Williams.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local advocates organize meeting with concerns for Gullah Geechie burial sites, threatened by new development
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – Local advocates are expected to host a community meeting concerning Gullah Geechie burial sites this weekend. Organizers will discuss the Gullah Geechie settlement community's graveyards, mainly focusing on Honey Hill and Seabrook/Lynville cemeteries. This comes as advocates are concerned amid increasing development around these areas. 'Through my experience being on county council I have come in contact with other areas that have problems with cemeteries. With development coming in the area, people are not giving access to the cemetery like they have before,' Anna Johnson, a former Charleston County council member, said. 'So, I just want to make sure this is an opportunity for others to come out and learn about where the cemeteries are that have been mapped out. Some of the descendants may not have known because they are young people now.' The Preservation Society of Charleston is expected to provide information about burial grounds and Historic Studies Limited will offer ways businesses can support these communities before construction. Johnson said one developer in Johns Island contacted her, which is not always the case, as this is an ongoing issue. 'The developer did contact me about locating descendants in the area, so they can talk with them – let them know that this is our plans for building etc. I thought that was great thing that they came to the community to find out who the descendants were and how they can come to kind of agreement about what to do with the cemetery,' said Johnson. Some burial sites have signs and fences around them, while others do not or are still being uncovered. In partnership with the City of Charleston, a map is now available with locations of the African American burial grounds, which will also be shown at the meeting. Johnson added that bringing attention to these graveyards, she hopes these cemeteries will continue to serve as reminders of the Gullah Geechee history in the Lowcountry. 'Gullah Geechee preservation is very important to me because I can see the disappearance of some the communities. Before long, all we are going to have is the cemetery it looks like because people who are young are not able to purchase land on James Island or some of islands they have been raised up on – and they're leaving,' Johnson said. The meeting will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. at the Baxter Patrick Library. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
