Council approves public notification for plan change.

Hurunui District Council has approved the public notification of Plan Change 7 to the Hurunui District Plan, formally opening a Resource Management Act (RMA) process to consider rezoning Council-owned land near Hursley Terrace Road from rural to residential.

The proposal is the next step in a long-running programme of work to mitigate the coastal hazard risk at Amberley Beach. It follows Council's Managed Retreat and Land Banking proposal and the purchase of the land completed approximately two years ago. Should Plan Change 7 ultimately be approved, Council will then begin work on a subdivision application to enable the creation of residential sections.

Planning consultant Liz White has been engaged by Council to prepare the Section 32 evaluation report, supporting the plan change. This report is a mandatory requirement under the RMA that ensures any proposed changes to the District Plan are robust, well-reasoned, and necessary.

Ms White said the technical assessments undertaken to date gave confidence in the proposal moving to notification.

"None of the technical assessments have raised a red flag to say this site isn't appropriate for residential development — most have said yes, it's appropriate, or appropriate provided the effects are mitigated through specific design measures. That's the level of assessment and robustness I'd expect to see at this stage of a plan change," Ms White said.

Council was clear that the decision approves public notification only, not the rezoning itself. Following notification, submissions will be received, heard, and ultimately considered by an independent commissioner, who will weigh community feedback — on matters such as land servicing, stormwater management and the site's productive land status — before any final decision is made.

Mayor Marie Black said the decision reflected the thorough scrutiny councillors had applied throughout the process.

"Councillors have asked appropriate and thorough questions of this process, and this is the due diligence we need to be conducting on behalf of our district as we engage in this process," Mayor Black said.

Submissions on Plan Change 7 will be open from 9 July to 7 August. Copies of the plan change documentation - including the Section 32 evaluation report - will be available on Council's website, Council service centres and libraries throughout the district.

Anyone wishing to make a submission is encouraged to do so through the formal process outlined in the notification documents.

Or by following this link https://www.hurunui.govt.nz/have-your-say/consulta...