Proposed Iona Urban Growth Area

The Iona area of Havelock North has been identified for residential growth for several years. In a bid to address population and household growth in Havelock North, Council is preparing to re-zone land in the Middle and Iona Road area for housing.

As part of the rezoning process Council needs to prepare a Structure Plan.  A Structure Plan shows the extent of the development area and where roads, reserves, walkways and main Council infrastructure services will go.

Council staff have prepared a draft Structure Plan with specialist input from Isthmus Group (landscape and urban design consultants).  Prior to this, significant background investigations have taken place to help shape the Draft Structure Plan.  Details of these investigations are included below.

Council’s Draft Structure Plan for the Iona Urban Growth Area was released in August 2017 for community feedback.  It is a more detailed structure plan than Council has produced previously, given the unique landscape within which this area sits, and the desire to retain many of the existing landscape features that the local community identify with and value. A summary of the feedback received and comments in response can be viewed in the related documents section at the bottom of this page.  The feedback received was very valuable and will help shape the version of the Structure Plan that will form part of the proposed District Plan variation to rezone the land.

The variation to rezone the land at Iona is currently being drafted and once notified, the community will have an opportunity to make written submissions.  A project update on when notification is likely to occur will be released in December.

Objectives for the Iona Urban Growth Area

The following objectives have been developed as goals or outcomes sought to be achieved through the rezoning of this area:

• a place that adds value to Havelock North;
• recognition that this is an opportunity to create innovative land development responses to this unique environment;
• a quality environment that reflects best practice urban design outcomes;
• development provisions that shape the Iona Growth Area and seek to achieve HPUDS objectives - uses land efficiently, while creating a high quality residential community; and
• a structure plan that is developed in a collaborative manner and reflects the above objectives.

Where to from here

Council will make an application to the Environment Minister to adopt a Streamlined Planning Process for the rezoning of this land. Information on this process is available from the Ministry for the Environment website.

The variation to rezone the land is currently being drafted by Council.  A decision on notification of the variation to rezone the land at Iona has not been made, but details will be included in a project update newsletter in December.  Once the variation is notified, submissions can be made on the rezoning proposal at this time.

If you have any questions about the proposed rezoning of land at Iona, please contact the Environmental Policy team by email or on by calling the council number.

Background information

Draft Structure Plan

In August 2017 Council released for community feedback a Draft Structure Plan.  Comments received on the Draft Structure Plan are being used to shape the Structure Plan which will be incorporated as part of the Plan Variation.

The purpose of the Draft Structure Plan is to guide and direct development to achieve the stated outcomes for the Iona Urban Growth Area.

Detail regarding how Council proposes to manage residential development within the Iona Urban Growth Area is outlined in the August edition of the Iona Working Group newsletter, available from the related documents section at the bottom of this page. The Iona Urban Growth area is considered a special environment, therefore the Draft Structure Plan will ensure many of the characteristics of the area that are valued by the local community are retained.

The unique landscape features of this area - the bull hill, the central ridge and valley landform incorporating the ponds and wetland areas are important components of this new residential area, and will provide easily accessible recreational opportunities for existing and new residents.

Environment Court Appeal

An Environment Court Appeal was received for a portion of the land proposed to be rezoned.  Late in 2016, a Working Group was set up to encourage discussions between the parties involved in the Environment Court Process.  The Working Group members agreed to work cooperatively for the long term benefit of the Iona area and Havelock North as a whole.  The project outcomes mentioned above, were established by the Working Group along with the adoption of a design led process as part of investigating options for rezoning this area. The work completed by the Working Group has been instrumental in shaping the Draft Structure Plan.

December 2016 and May 2017 newsletters released by the Iona Working Group can be viewed from the related documents section at the bottom of this page.

Iona Issues and Options Paper

In July 2016 Council released, for public comment, an Issues and Options Paper which outlined three possible options for re-zoning land in this area, this can be found in the related documents section below.  Many residents took the time to comment on this paper, with Council receiving comprehensive feedback from more than 34 individuals and groups. A summary of the issues and concerns raised in the comments received can be found in the related documents section at the bottom of this page.  These comments have been used by Council and the Iona Working Group to shape the Draft Structure Plan.