MDCA : Tasman Resource Management Plan(TRMP) –November 2020
Māpua & Districts Community Association’s October meeting was held immediately following the TDC drop-in session for community input on TRMP and primarily focused on the issues raised and processes to be followed . For those interested in more detail, please note that a full recording of the presentation is available on MDCA Facebook Page while the video and power-point slides are posted on the MDCA Webpage
Kathy Fletcher ( (TDC Principal planner) noted that :
- the title and theme of the Draft plan is Aorere ki uta; Aorere ki tai – Tasman area from the mountains to the sea which recognizes all living things and how they can co-exist and interact .
- there were 7 waahi ( districts) in the region and 9 iwi holding mana whenua status which means that consultation and input process takes time and covers a wide range of issues and opportunities for change. The focus would be on developing partnerships “ by the community; for the community” as “we need to get it right”
Residents were thanked for the issues raised & ideas suggested at the drop-in session prior to the MDCA meeting. Local input & engagement is recognized as being essential in terms of how to meet and balance these needs while also looking to the future and ensuring a balance . Information and input would be gathered from each district and co-ordinated into a whole regional plan in which local issues would be addressed and plans for regional development would be set.
The TRMP will set broad policies ( guidance ) as well as include regulations ( the rule book) – “we need a pause in paddling to ensure that we are all travelling in the same direction”
Jeremy Butler (TDC Team Leader for Urban & Rural development)
explained the purpose of the plan in relation to Resource Management Act ( RMA) & TDC’s Long term Plan ( LTP) which is to combine all of these into a “user friendly plan” which is why “a ground-up community consultation process is essential .”
It was noted that “ planning is a slow process” & that if there are pressing issues, these need to be addressed in other forums noting the role of elected members [Ward Councillors] here
Māpua & Districts was described as a:
- “ sensitive cultural area”
- “ hot-spot for future growth”
recognizing the importance of identifying where future commercial growth should be . This means an in-depth investigation of future development plans . The character of amenities of this area have not previously been defined
Issues raised by those attending related to :
- Zoning- seen as a primary issue – a reminder that all maps relating to “top of the South” will be posted on MDCA Website [under “ community planning”]
- Indicative roads
- Development/ felling trees / identifying & saving “ significant trees”
- Retaining diversity in the area
- Addressing & engaging with climate change issues
- Possibility of plan changes between now &end of planning period [this takes up to 2 years.] Jeremy noted that organizations such as MDCA can use TEP for a private plan change { this needs to be paid for) but that “ if you continue to do rolling time changes we won’t get anywhere.”
The TDC Timeline :
- 2020- meeting with communities
- options with solutions ; “ discussions with elected members”
- 2021- come back to communities with draft plan ( engagement round 2)
- 2022- future unclear with abolition of RMA ( engagement round 3)
- Presentation finished with their reassurance that “we are committed to coming back to you and keeping you updated: – thankyou let’s do this together”
- Residents were urged to get involved and “help us[TDC] plan how to look after our district for generations to come” through :
Web: environmentplan.tasman.govt Email: environmentplan@tasman.govt Phone: 03 543 8400
Chair Marion Satherley thanked presenters for their time and engagement – “ your job has been done”
ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS
Dominion Flats –attention was directed to 2 photographs of the same area 2014/2020 noting the
significant difference over the years. These can be seen on MDCA Website
Heritage trees –noted that identifying and listing these was a project the community could undertake with MDCA co-ordination – Ward Councillors will locate & forward information on the process
COMMUNITY WELLBEING
- Community volunteer drivers’ service – Māpua Willing Wheels is now up and rolling – with only 2months left in the trial period, it is vital that the service is well used –“ use it or lose it”-please spread the word!!
- Community Hub– see separate newsletter article elsewhere in this issue with details of projects and progress
Projects
Community Seating noted these should be ready for public use by the end of November
SOCIAL MEDIA
Noted high levels of engagement with postings on live presentations from September monthly meeting and “indicative roads” posting.
COMMENTS FROM WARD COUNCILLORS
Cr Christeen McKenzie noted that :
1 TDC was working on the 3 year review of the LTP ( Long tem Plan ) and
2 she will locate and send the A4 sized diagram showing how all TDC’s different documents are named and interact with each other
Cr Anne Turley reassured members that in relation to Councillors’ level of involvement with issues of climate change :
- all TDC reports included the implications of climate change
- tTwo TDC staff & councillors attend the regional Climate Change Forum meetings
FUTURE HOT TOPICS:
November – Advanced Care Planning – what is it & why is it important ?
December – celebrating the year past & planning for the year ahead J
Be sure to attend/ join in our next monthly meeting: Monday, 9 November at 7 PM (content & format on MDCA Facebook & Mailchimp mailout)
Submitted by: Elena Meredith