Designations for Public Works

A designation is a form of ‘spot zoning’ over a site, area or route in a district plan. The ‘spot zoning’ authorises the requiring authority’s work and activity on the site, area or route without the need for land use consent from the relevant territorial authority (i.e. s9(3) of the RMA does not apply). A designation has a similar effect to a plan change establishing a permitted activity as it: identifies the land affected in the district plan enables a requiring authority to undertake the works within the designated area without the need for a land use consent sets the parameters under which the activity can occur. Designations are also similar to a comprehensive land-use resource consent as they enable a requiring authority to undertake the works within the designated area (subject to any conditions applied to it). A designation restricts anyone other than the requiring authority from carrying out work on the designated land that will prevent or hinder the project or work to which the designation relates, without first obtaining the requiring authority’s permission. A full list of the Gisborne District Council designations can be found in Appendix G25 Schedule of the Tairawhiti Resource Management Plan.