Introduction:

The Council is required to prepare a District Plan under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The District Plan is the primary document that manages land use and development within the Wellington City Council's territorial boundaries. The plan is required to work towards the sustainable management of the District's natural and physical resources.

Sustainable management is defined in the Resource Management Act as:

"managing the use, development, and protection of natural and physical resources in a way, or at a rate, which enables people and communities to provide for their social, economic, and cultural wellbeing and for their health and safety while -

1. Sustaining the potential of natural and physical resources (excluding minerals) to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations; and
   
2. Safeguarding the life-supporting capacity of air, water, soil, and ecosystems; and
   
3. Avoiding, remedying, or mitigating any adverse effects of activities on the environment.

The Plan controls building development and other land use activities. If you intend to undertake building work or land use activities the District Plan contains rules that may affect your proposal.
The District Plan addresses such matters as:

• the control of any actual or potential effects of the use, development, or protection of land
  
• natural hazards
  
• storage, use, disposal, or transportation of hazardous substances
  
• subdivision of land
  
• noise

The District Plan is administered by the Environmental Control Business Unit (ECBU) on behalf of the Council.

The ongoing review and changes to the Plan is undertaken by the District Plan Team - Policy Group. For further information email District Plan or phone 499 4444.

The District Plan consists of three volumes:

Volume 1 - contains the objectives, policies and methods (including rules). Here you will find a contents page that will link you to the chapter you wish to view. This volume is broken up into chapters that cover:

• introductory material
  
• significant issues for tangata whenua
  
• objectives policies and rules for specific areas (zones) as defined on the planning maps (eg the Outer Residential or Rural Areas)
  
• objectives, policies and rules for City wide issues (eg heritage, utilities)

Volume 2 - contains design guides. Here you will find a contents page that will link you to the chapter you wish to view. This volume is broken up into individual chapters or guides that cover:

• general guidance to those wishing to undertake new building development or to refurbish existing buildings within identified parts of the City (such as the Central Area, Thorndon etc). These guides acknowledge that there is no one 'right' way to design a building, but provide design principles as to how a development may be designed to be consistent with the identified character of particular areas. For identified character areas ECBU use these guidelines to assess development proposals.
  
• general guidance on multi unit developments. Again ECBU use these guidelines to assess such development proposals.
  
• Non statutory guidelines. Such guidelines are intended for information purposes only. They provide design principles for dealing with crime and wind.

Volume 3 - contains the planning maps. These maps are the first reference point for developing an understanding of what restrictions apply to a particular property or area. Here you will find the following information:

• A contents page that will link you to the map you wish to view.
  
• A grid map detailing the entire district. From here you can click on the individual map number that corresponds to the area you are interested in.
  
• A legend, or key
  
• A street index
  
• 31 maps containing zoning and additional information such as heritage notation, hazard areas, protected trees, Maori precincts etc.
  
• Specialist maps (maps 32 - 49) detailing central area building heights, airport information, the roading hierarchy, Council designations, etc.

Hard copies of the District Plan are available for viewing at the Council Service Centre and at all Wellington City Public Libraries.