In 2006 the Hastings District Council commenced a process to provide for better controls of the sub-division of rural zoned land within the coastal environment. The new rules are known as Plan Change 38.

Plan Change 38 was approved by the Hastings District Council Hearings Committee on 16 October 2008 after an earlier injunction by Hill Country Corporation Ltd against the Council was withdrawn from the High Court.

Hill Country Corporation Ltd and associated landowners have continued to contest the HDC Plan Change 38 decision, and they are now seeking a special exemption from Plan Change 38 for their land at Ocean Beach.

In essence, Hill Country Corporation Ltd and associated landowners are seeking a lower level of environmental protection for Ocean Beach, and easier development rights for their land than would apply to all the other rural zoned land in the HDC coastal environment.

Future Ocean Beach Trust submitted in support of the original HDC Plan Change, and we continue to support Plan Change 38. We will be calling expert landscape and heritage witness evidence as part of the FOB submission to the Environment Court.

The exemption and special rules sought by Hill Country Corporation Ltd and associated land owners will be heard and decided by the Environment Court.

We are awaiting notification of the date for the Environment Court Hearing.

The other parties supporting the Council’s Plan Change are the Department of Conservation, the Hawkes Bay Regional Council, and the Waimarama Maori Committee, as well as several individuals who submitted in support of the Council’s Plan Change.

We will advise when we know of the date for the Environment Court Hearing.