Council votes 8-5 for process changes

Councillors at the meeting yesterday. Photo / Stephen Parker

Te Arawa has been given its first council function since a partnership model was passed.

At a Rotorua Lakes Council meeting yesterday, the council agreed to disestablish its existing statutory hearing committee and replace it with a Resource Management Act policy committee, and a separate independent hearings commissioner panel.

The change, which comes into effect on October 30, will give Te Arawa iwi influence in planning and land-use decisions.

Councillors voted 8-5 to pass the changes, with councillors Rob Kent, Mark Gould, Peter Bentley, Glenys Searancke and Mike McVicker voting against.

The new committee will carry out council functions relating to district plan reviews, variations and changes.

It will be made up of two elected councillors, and an independent commissioner recommended by the proposed Te Arawa board and subject to approval by the council.

The new independent hearings commissioner panel will comprise up to 10 council-approved independent commissioners.

They will be responsible for determining matters relating to resource consents and notices of requirements.

The Te Arawa board would have input into the selection process for commissioners.

Mr Kent detailed his own experience of the resource consent hearing process but Mayor Steve Chadwick disallowed some of his comments for irrelevance.

"That was not this council," she said.

Mr Kent said he would "implore this council to think carefully".

The councillors on the committee will be Karen Hunt, who will also be the chairwoman, and Janet Wepa.

Strategy and partnerships group manager Jean-Paul Gaston said the separation of functions not only reflected "good practice" identified by the Ministry for the Environment, but would also give effect to the council's commitment to involve Te Arawa in decision-making processes.

"What this committee is doing is working closely with Te Arawa to determine the future land use issues," chief executive Geoff Williams said.