Presented by Justine Bray and Luke Hinchey
Designations are a key tool under the RMA for consenting, constructing, operating and future proofing many medium to large scale projects. The practice of establishing, applying for and using designations under the RMA is often not well understood. This is not surprising given that by far the vast majority of development proposals are established through resource consents, which are quite different to designations. Furthermore, there are only limited people or organisations who can exercise designation powers.
Understanding how designations work is an important area of knowledge for all planners, particularly those interested in working with councils, central government organisations and infrastructure providers that help deliver public good projects. The presenters will use case studies including AUT University’s South campus designation and that of Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth for the New Zealand Transport Agency.
This one day course aims to give planners an insight into what designations are & how they can be used. It will provide an overview of their statutory framework under the RMA, the status of the designation in a District Plan, how this may be altered and the purposes of an outline plan of works. The course will also address conditions on designations and some case law will be discussed.
Justine Bray
Justine is a Partner and Technical Principal for Planning, with over 20 years commitment to Opus International Consultants. She has over 27 years’ technical experience in NZ and internationally, including Malaysia, Vietnam and Australia and is a long standing Full Member of the New Zealand Planning Institute. Throughout her career she has managed significant planning projects for Ministers of the Crown, including the role of Expert Witness in the Environment Court for Plan Changes and the Planning Lead or Technical Advisor for new designations throughout New Zealand. Justine has successfully recently delivered a new Notice of Requirement for the development of a new 8.5ha tertiary education campus, which has included the presentation of expert evidence at the hearing before independent commissioners. Building on this experience, Justine is now leading the clients planning team to implement conditions of this designation and directing all planning input associated with the future construction stages that requires an Outline Plan of Works and Regional Consents. Justine also represents a number of Requiring Authorities that are working with Auckland Council to develop the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan. Her roles include preparing designation ‘roll over” notices and leading all aspects of the submission process on behalf of Requiring Authorities, ensuring their designation and consenting requirements are provided for in the new Unitary Plan.
Luke Hinchey
Luke advises private and public clients on the resource management and environmental aspects of projects, litigation and mergers & acquisitions. He has advised on property subdivision and development, district and regional planning processes and public works and land acquisition in industrial, energy, infrastructure, and waste management matters.
