Changes to Wanganui's rural subdivision rules are shaping up as one of the bigger issues planners have dealt with, Wanganui District Council policy planner Alisha Huijs says.
Proposed Plan Change 36 seeks to keep the district's best soils free of lifestyle blocks and available for agriculture and horticulture. It would prevent pieces of land smaller than 10ha being subdivided.
It would also allow poorer soils close to Wanganui to be divided into .5ha sections for semi-rural living. Previously the minimum size was 1ha. The balance of rural land would keep the 1ha minimum subdivision size.
There were a total of 76 submissions on the change, with strong opinions on both sides.
People who had planned to subdivide are against the change, and at least one is asking for compensation if it is made. People who favour agriculture are for making it.