District Plan
The Trust made extensive submissions to Stage 2 and Stage 3 of the replacement Christchurch District Plan around its key interest areas including walking tracks, tramping huts, directional and interpretative signage and biodiversity. The Trust engaged Jan Cook, a local person with a long history and understanding of planning on Banks Peninsula to assist it with its submissions and to attend the many hearings and mediations involved.
“We could not have managed the complex District Plan process without the experience and hard work of our consultant Jan Cook” say Suky Thompson. The Plan Hearing Panel commended Jan’s clear and logical evidence and for playing a full part on behalf of the community. The replacement District Plan gives better recognition to activities such as walking ,and the need to secure public access where appropriate during subdivisions, distinguishes between advertising and interpretative signage and retains the Akaroa Historic Area as a result of the Trust’s participation. We are concerned that biodiversity protection and opportunities to protect it are not as strong as we would have liked.
Representation Review
The Trust strongly supported the retention of the Banks Peninsula ward of Christchurch City Council with its own Councillor and was pleased that this has occurred.
Freedom Camping Bylaw
The Trust welcomes visitors to Banks Peninsula, but opposed the Freedom Camping Bylaw as notified in 2015, foreseeing environmental impacts and economic issues from competition with campgrounds and accommodation. The Trust was disappointed with the resultant by-law, and was pleased that the Council reviewed it when problems did arise to greatly restrict areas where camping non-self contained vehicles could camp.
Conservation Management Strategy
In 2013 the Trust submitted on the Department of Conservation Draft Canterbury Conservation Management Strategy seeking better recognition for Banks Peninsula/Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū, and its importance as a tourism and visitor destination. We sought greater acknowledgement of its bush reserves, Icon status for Akaroa Harbour, Gateway status for the Summit Walkway and keeping public conservation land free of aircraft. The Canterbury Conservation Management Strategy was finally released in 2016, and although the Icon and Gateway status requests were not forthcoming, in general the Banks Peninsula section was much improved.