TOWN PLAN OBJECTIONS

Taupo Times, Volume III, Issue 124, 11 June 1954, Page 1

TOWN PLAN OBJECTIONS

PROCEDURE OUTLINED

A letter from Mr A. L. Gabites, Town Planning Consultant to the Taupo Borough Council, read at the Council's meeting last week, stated that, while regulations under the Act have not been published, he had advised that there would be no advantages in delaying hearing of objections until the regulations were announced, as the Act itself covers the procedure fairly explicity. The next step was for a summary of the subject matters of objections to be prepared and published in the local newspaper, and for a date for hearing of objections to be arranged and announced at the same time. A period of at least one month must be allowed, after the summary of objections has been published and before the hearing, to allow time for interested parties to oppose or support the objections. In addition, a written notice of the date fixed for the hearing must be posted to each objector and copies also sent to the Minister#of Works and District Commissioner of Works. A Committee of the Council, consisting of any two or more of its members, may be appointed to hear the objections and make recommedations to the Council in regard to them. The function of this Committee is mainly to take evidence, upon which the full Council will later make its decision. It is not necessary for objectors to appear at the hearing in support of their objections if they do not desire to do so, as their written objection alone may bei considered by the Council. The Committee has power to summon witnesses by counsel. Every summons to a witness to appear must be served at least twenty-four hours before the hearing and witnesses are entitled to reasonable expenses for travelling. A verbatim record of the proceeding has to be taken. Following the hearing, and the reports and recommedations of the Committee, the Council must then decide whether to allow or disallow each objection and notify the objector accordingly. Where the objection is disallowed, the notice must be accompanied by a brief statement of the reasons for the decision. A period of two months is then allowed for any appeal to the Town and Country Planning Appeal Board. All persons who wish to be heard in support of, or in opposition to, any objection, are required to notify the Council accordingly at least three days before the advertised date of commencement of the hearing of objections. The notice of opposition to an objection must state the opponent's name and must mention any one property owned or occupied by him, giving a description of the land.