District-wide matter: Airfields, airstrips and helicopter landing pads

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District Plan Review consultation now closed.

Initial public consultation on key draft changes to the current Selwyn District Plan closed on Monday 8 October 2018. Thank you to everyone who let us know what they thought of the review so far.

What’s next?

Following this initial public consultation on the District Plan Review, the Council will consider all feedback and start developing detailed provisions for the Proposed District Plan. Please note that a summary report on the initial public consultation will be made available on Your Say Selwyn website at www.selwyn.govt.nz/districtplanreview.

It’s expected the Proposed District Plan will be

District Plan Review consultation now closed.

Initial public consultation on key draft changes to the current Selwyn District Plan closed on Monday 8 October 2018. Thank you to everyone who let us know what they thought of the review so far.

What’s next?

Following this initial public consultation on the District Plan Review, the Council will consider all feedback and start developing detailed provisions for the Proposed District Plan. Please note that a summary report on the initial public consultation will be made available on Your Say Selwyn website at www.selwyn.govt.nz/districtplanreview.

It’s expected the Proposed District Plan will be notified in early 2020 for formal public consultation. The longer timeframe is due to the local government elections at the end of 2019 and ensuring the newly elected Council endorses the Proposed District Plan before it gets notified.


We want to know what you think about the draft changes to the current District Plan's rules affecting airfields, airstrips and helicopter landing pads. These draft changes have been endorsed by the Selwyn District Council for further development as part of its District Plan Review.

How can I have a say?

To give us your feedback on the draft changes to, you can:

There will be many consultation opportunities for feedback at different stages of the District Plan Review and this is the first such opportunity. It’s expected that the new District Plan will be notified in early 2020 and be fully in place, subject to any Environment Court appeals, in March 2022.

Background

Airfields in the current District Plan

There are currently two well established airfields in the District: the West Melton Aerodrome, located on land leased from Environment Canterbury and operated by the Canterbury Aero Club, and the Springfield Aerodrome, owned by a charitable trust and operated by the Canterbury Gliding Club by way of a perpetual lease. There are also a number of rural airstrips used for farming, and established helicopter operations.

In the Rural Zone airfields, rural airstrips and helicopter landing pads don’t require a resource consent as long as they meet certain rules, for example in relation to noise and aircraft movement limits. There is also a restriction on number of flights (28 per week) which airstrips or helipads located within one kilometre of the nearest boundary of any residential zone have to comply with. However, an exception to this rule allows an unlimited number of flights on any five days in a six-month period.

Certain aircraft movements in the rural zones associated with emergency, fire control, law enforcement, seasonal farming work, military aircraft and Porters Ski and Recreation Area are automatically a permitted activity with no consideration of noise effects or flight frequency.


  • Key draft changes for the future District Plan

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    The Council’s District Plan Committee has endorsed the following draft changes for further development, which we’re now consulting on:

    • Develop more comprehensive, clearer and more restrictive rules which airfields, airstrips and helicopter landing pads would need to meet if they wanted to operate without a resource consent. The more restrictive rules wouldn’t apply to aircraft movements associated with emergency, fire control, law enforcement, seasonal farming work, military aircraft and Porters Ski and Recreation Area. The changes include:
    1. reconsidering allowing an unlimited number of flights over five days
    2. developing setbacks to ensure aircraft operations are appropriately separated from dwellings and other sensitive activities such as schools
    3. considering restricting aircraft movements to normal business hours only
    4. reconsidering noise related rules. See the draft changes to noise and vibration related rules to find out more about draft changes to these rules.
    • Large building developments and aircraft movements beyond the specified thresholds, for example in relation to residential dwellings, would require resource consent to manage any adverse effects.
    • Review what aircraft activities should continue to be a permitted activity without having to meet certain rules.
    • Keep approach surfaces rules for the West Melton Aerodrome and introduce them for the Springfield Aerodrome. These rules restrict the height of trees, buildings and utilities underneath the approach surfaces to ensure aircraft can take off and land safely.
    • Develop specific provisions for the West Melton Aerodrome as part of an Outline Development Plan/Management Area/Overlay approach (ODP). This approach would see the site clearly shown on the planning maps with associated provisions tailored to the aerodrome. Such an approach would provide greater recognition and protection to the aerodrome while at the same time manage any adverse effects on the surrounding environment.







  • Summary of key issues with the current District Plan

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    As a result of the review of current policies and rules specific to airfields, airstrips and helicopter landing pads, we’ve identified the following issues with the current District Plan:

    • The current rules managing aircraft movements are considered too permissive which results in their effects not being appropriately managed.
    • The current definitions associated with airfields, aircraft and helicopter pads are inconsistent and unclear.