In less than two years, oil and gas activities could be prohibited in parts of Hawke's Bay.
Last year the Hawke's Bay Regional Council agreed to progress a prohibition of oil and gas exploration activities within productive aquifers, aquifer recharge zones and surface water bodies through a standalone plan change.
The next steps in preparing for this plan change will be outlined at a Regional Planning Committee meeting this morning.
Although this project was not part of the Policy Planning Team's work programme, planning staff began preliminary work in November to scope out the likely next steps for preparation of this plan change.
A report before the committee authored by council group manager strategic development
James Palmer outlined these "indicative milestones" scheduled from this month, to late 2018.
Early milestones included the engagement of consultants for plan change preparation services beginning this month, while activities slated for March included the draft project work programme and stakeholder engagement plan adoption, and preliminary legal advice on scope and justifiable prohibition.