KEY POINTS:
Auckland Regional Council will review its controversial bid to classify huge areas as outstanding natural landscape with restrictions on their use.
Nearly 20 months ago, farmers and lifestyle block owners in the region were shocked to learn their properties had become "outstanding natural landscapes" in an overhaul of the regional planning policy statement.
The revised framework was aimed at protecting 125,000ha of coastal landscapes and volcanic cones from development. City and district councils would be legally obliged to pay regard to the policy when issuing resource consents. But farmers complained they were caught unawares by changes which they said would require a resource consent to put up a fence.
On Friday, the chairman of the ARC panel hearing submissions on the proposal, said the panel agreed with submitters' complaints that big changes were needed to the draft policy.
Paul Walbran said he and fellow ARC panel members, Sandra Coney and Christine Rose, would ask the council to allow a variation to the draft of Plan Change 8 to take in the amendments.
The changes were so wide-ranging that the panel believed they should beconsulted on and publicly notified so everyone could comment. "It became clear the council had tripped over and did not consult as thoroughly as it usually does," said Mr Walbran.
"What we have heard [in 10 days of hearings] is a useful start and we are using our understanding of the issues and concern that became evident to form a new draft.
"Hopefully we will end up with a product much closer to the mark."
Auckland Federated Farmers says about 1000 of its members were affected by the original proposal and many were unaware of it until after the deadline for submissions. Mr Walbran said the council's public notice was unwittingly headed "volcanic cones and landscape" which caused people to ignore it without realising it was also about general landscape provisions.
Another major complaint - about the accuracy of maps showing sensitive landscape areas - would be dealt with by a peer review.
He promised consultation with landowners in fixing discrepancies in the maps, which are guides to planners on land-use restrictions.
The hearings process on volcanic cones and features is unaffected and decisions are pending.
The ARC would give neither the cost for the landscape part of the hearings nor the cost for the extended process. "There will be more cost but if we get this stage right there will be less cost at the next stage - appeals to the Environment Court. It will save everyone a big package of lawyers' bills later," said Mr Walbran.
Waiuku farmer Murray McNaughten made submissions to the ARC panel after accidentally finding that most of a 570ha runoff property - in sandhill country - was classed as outstanding natural landscape. "It looked as if normal farming practices would be restricted - fencing, planting trees, building a pumphouse.
"But the panel has listened to our views that farming would be put into a time warp though farmers need the freedom to change practices."
Local ARC councillor Dianne Glenn said the panel's reaction would help to heal people's distrust of the value of the public hearings process.
Federated Farmers said it made submissions to the panel on behalf of 400 members who were directly affected and was keen to see how a revised policy draft met their complaints.
The federation's submission said landowners' opinions were not sought on what was outstanding about their properties. Instead, the ARC did a public preference survey. People in shopping malls were shown pictures and asked which ones they thought were outstanding natural landscapes.
FARMERS' COMPLAINTS
* 125,000ha classed outstanding
* Landowners not consulted
* Inadequate notification
* Inaccurate planning maps
* Restrictions on farming
