Christchurch Council moves to better protect native trees and plants

Christchurch City Council is calling for feedback on a proposed District Plan change to better protect and maintain indigenous vegetation across the district.

Proposed Plan Change 7 – Managing Significant Indigenous Vegetation proposes new rules around the clearance of native trees and plants that apply to areas of coastal farmland. It also seeks to amend the definition of improved pasture relating to areas of existing pasture, as well as policies that apply to indigenous vegetation clearance across the entire district. 

An initial round of feedback was called for earlier this year, resulting in some changes to what Christchurch City Council is proposing to better protect native vegetation, particularly around the amount that can be cleared consecutively to manage cumulative effects.

Council Head of Planning and Strategic Transport David Griffiths says the Council wants to know what people think about the proposal, in case there is anything it hasn’t considered when drafting the plan change.

“The proposed plan change will affect any individual wanting to undertake clearance of native trees and plants at or above limits established in the District Plan, as well as farming activities to maintain existing pasture for grazing livestock.”

Formal submissions on a proposed change to better protect native trees and plants will open on 19th May.

The proposed plan change can be viewed during opening hours at any Council service centres or libraries. It can also be viewed online at ccc.govt.nz/planchange7 from 19th May.

Submissions must be received before 5pm on 21st June 2021.