Unitary Plan Commissioners Appointed by Minister for the Environment and Minister of Conservation
This story is going to get lost in the Len Brown saga today but hey least you saw it here. Minister Dr Nick Smith and Minister Amy Adams today has announced the Commissioners that will be on the Unitary Plan Hearings Panel. These Commissioners will decide what final shape and form the Unitary Plan will take before it becomes fully operative (subject to appeals in the Environment and possibly High Courts).
It is these Commissioners where our formal Unitary Plan written submissions go and it is these Commissioners who we plead our “case” to what we would to see in the final version.
From Voxy:
Auckland Unitary Plan hearings panel appointed
Friday, 13 December, 2013 – 15:26
Environment Minister Amy Adams and Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith have today announced the appointment of eight board members to the Auckland Unitary Plan hearings panel.
The Auckland Unitary Plan will be the first combined resource management plan for Auckland and will replace the regional policy statement, and the regional and district plans that Auckland Council inherited from the eight former councils of the Auckland region.
“It represents the largest planning exercise in the history of New Zealand, and will have significant implications for Auckland and New Zealand’s environmental and economic performance,” the Ministers say.
“The Auckland Unitary Plan hearings panel has an important role to play in shaping the future of Auckland. The panel will hear submissions and make recommendations to the Auckland Council on the proposed plan.”
The panel members have expertise in a wide range of disciplines including law, economics, resource management planning, local government and Tikanga MÄori.
The panel was appointed following consultation with Auckland Council and the Independent Maori Statutory Board. The Ministers thanked those entities for their constructive involvement in the process to select the panel members.
The panel will be chaired by David Kirkpatrick, a resource management barrister who has significant experience in consenting and planning.
Mr Kirkpatrick has chaired high profile consent applications and has appeared in front of several Boards of Inquiry.
The other panel members are Des Morrison, Janet Crawford, Paula Hunter, John Kirikiri, Stuart Shepherd, Greg Hill and Peter Fuller.
—ends—
Source: http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/auckland-unitary-plan-hearings-panel-appointed/5/177262
Edit: Add on
I have noted this from Transport Blog:
Rather interesting after the amount of grief THAT bridge caused in the first feedback round. Will be keeping a close eye out in case THAT bridge comes back up again…
Edit #2: More Information
From Scoop which includes bio’s on the Commissioners:
Auckland Unitary Plan hearings panel appointed
Environment Minister Amy Adams and Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith have today announced the appointment of eight board members to the Auckland Unitary Plan hearings panel.
The Auckland Unitary Plan will be the first combined resource management plan for Auckland and will replace the regional policy statement, and the regional and district plans that Auckland Council inherited from the eight former councils of the Auckland region.
“It represents the largest planning exercise in the history of New Zealand, and will have significant implications for Auckland and New Zealand’s environmental and economic performance,” the Ministers say.
“The Auckland Unitary Plan hearings panel has an important role to play in shaping the future of Auckland. The panel will hear submissions and make recommendations to the Auckland Council on the proposed plan.”
The panel members have expertise in a wide range of disciplines including law, economics, resource management planning, local government and Tikanga Māori.
The panel was appointed following consultation with Auckland Council and the Independent Maori Statutory Board. The Ministers thanked those entities for their constructive involvement in the process to select the panel members.
The panel will be chaired by David Kirkpatrick, a resource management barrister who has significant experience in consenting and planning.
Mr Kirkpatrick has chaired high profile consent applications and has appeared in front of several Boards of Inquiry.
The other panel members are Des Morrison, Janet Crawford, Paula Hunter, John Kirikiri, Stuart Shepherd, Greg Hill and Peter Fuller.
Biographies of Board Members
David Kirkpatrick (Chair): Mr Kirkpatrick is an experienced resource management barrister, with extensive experience in consenting and planning appeals. He is an accredited independent hearings commissioner, and has chaired council hearings, including a number of high profile consent applications. He also has expert litigation experience, having appeared before consent authorities and Boards of Inquiry.
Des Morrison: Mr Morrison is a former Auckland Councillor, during which time he was Chair of the Rural Advisory Panel and Regulatory Bylaws Committee. Mr Morrison also served as ward councillor for Franklin District and has extensive business experience including General Manager at New Zealand Steel/BHP New Zealand Steel.
Janet Crawford: Ms Crawford is a resource management consultant with expertise in mediation and facilitation. She is a co-founder of the Mediators Institute of New Zealand. Ms Crawford’s previous employment includes Research Associate at Harvard University, and Senior Research Fellow at Waikato and Massey University. Ms Crawford is a winner of the NZ Planning Institute Distinguished Service Award.
Paula Hunter is a planning consultant at MWH with extensive experience in district and regional plan development and specialist skills in structure planning, managing and staging growth and aligning infrastructure requirements. Ms Hunter’s recent work includes strategic advisor for the Hamilton City District Plan review. Ms Hunter is a winner of the NZPI Distinguished Service Award and an accredited independent Hearings Commissioner.
John Kirikiri: Mr Kirikiri has Tikanga Māori expertise in an RMA and emergency management context. He is a qualified independent hearings commissioner and is an independent commissioner for Auckland Council. He is a former Deputy Mayor of Rodney District Council and a former member of the Hibiscus and Bay’s Local Board.
Stuart Shepherd: Mr Shepherd is a director at the Sapere Research Group and provides advice on regulatory economics, business strategy, and public policy. His work as an economist has primarily focussed on infrastructure including economic regulation in the airport, electricity, gas and telecommunications sectors. Mr Shepherd’s previous employment includes roles at Vector and Telecom.
Greg Hill: Mr Hill is a resource management consultant, an accredited independent hearings chair and commissioner. He has significant experience in chairing council hearings and technical expertise in air, land, water and coastal policy issues. He was previously a General Manager of Policy and Planning at Auckland Regional Council, and a principal author of the Auckland Regional Coastal Plan.
Peter Fuller: Mr Fuller is a Barrister with experience and qualifications in resource management law, planning, environmental management, and horticultural science. He has appeared before council hearings, the Environment Court, and the High Court. Mr Fuller is an accredited RMA Commissioner and was formally a Strategic Policy Analyst at the Auckland Regional Council, and project leader on the Auckland Regional Growth Strategy.
—ends—
Source: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1312/S00300/auckland-unitary-plan-hearings-panel-appointed.htm
Talking Southern Auckland 