PUBLIC NOTICE District Plan Change 4

Public Notice

PROPOSED PLAN CHANGE 4 (URBAN GROWTH) TO THE OPERATIVE

SOUTH WAIKATO DISTRICT PLAN

22 July 2026

The South Waikato District Council hereby gives public notice under Clause 5(1) of the First Schedule to the Resource Management Act 1991 (the Act) that it has prepared Proposed Plan Change 4 (Urban Growth) to the South Waikato District Plan and the submission period is now open.

Plan Change 4 proposes to alter the zoning of land in Tīrau, Putāruru and Tokoroa to provide areas zoned general residential, rural lifestyle, general industrial and future urban. The re-zoning is required to provide land to meet the future housing and business demand in the district.

The proposed changes include:

• New and amended provisions throughout the District Plan to better facilitate growth;
• Amendments to the infrastructure, transport, natural hazards and subdivision chapters;
• A new future urban zone;
• Amendments to the provisions in the general residential zone, town centre zone and district wide subdivision rules to allow for more intensive residential development on suitable sites; and
• Changes to the natural hazard rules to better manage the risks of flooding.

The proposed plan change can be inspected on Council’s website www.southwaikato.govt.nz or in person during business hours at the following locations:

• Council Office, Torphin Crescent, Tokoroa
• Tīrau Information Centre, State Highway 1, Tīrau
• Tokoroa Public Library, Leith Place, Tokoroa
• Putāruru Public Library and Service Centre, Overdale Street, Putāruru

Please contact Eshrita Lata on 07 885 0785 if you have any questions about the proposed plan change.

Any person may make a submission on Plan Change 4. However, if the person could gain an advantage in trade competition through the submission, then the person may only do so if the person is directly affected by an effect of Plan Change 4 that adversely affects the environment and does not relate to trade competition or the effects of trade competition.

You can make a submission by:

• Sending a written submission to South Waikato District Council at Private Bag 7, Tokoroa, or via email to submissions@southwaikato.govt.nz
• Dropping off a completed hard copy submission form to: The Council Office, Torphin Crescent, Tokoroa (Monday to Friday): 8.30am to 5pm
• Filling in the online submission form at https: www.southwaikato.govt.nz

Submissions may be made using Form 5, and must state whether or not you wish to be heard on your submission. The relief you seek in your submission must be clearly set out. Copies of Form 5 are available from Council’s offices and on Council’s website at www.southwaikato.govt.nz

Submissions close on Wednesday 2 September 2026 at 5.00pm.

The process for public participation in the consideration of Plan Change 4 is as follows:

• After the closing date for submissions, South Waikato District Council will prepare a summary of the submissions and give public notice of the availability of this summary and where the submissions can be viewed.
• There will be an opportunity for the following persons to make a further submission in support of, or in opposition to, the submissions already made:
• Any person representing a relevant aspect of the public interest;
• Any person who has an interest in the proposal greater than the general public has; and
• South Waikato District Council itself.
• If a person making a submission asks to be heard in support of his or her submission, a hearing must be held.
• South Waikato District Council must give its decision on the provisions and matters raised in the submissions (including its reasons for accepting or rejecting submissions) and give public notice of its decision within 2 years of notifying Plan Change 4 and serve it on every person who made a submission.
• Any person who has made a submission has the right to appeal the decision on Plan Change 4 to the Environment Court.

This notice is published under Clause 5 of the First Schedule to the Resource Management Act 1991.

S Law

Manukura / Chief Executive

South Waikato District Council