The Timaru District Council has appointed an independent Hearing Panel to hear submissions on the PDP. A number of hearings have been scheduled for the purposes of hearing submissions, commencing in May 2024.

Environment Canterbury provided a proposed updated Flood Assessment Area Overlay map for Hearing F (Natural Hazards), which was held on 30 April – 1 May 2025. That map seeks expand the extent of the Flood Assessment Area Overlay in some areas and reduce its extent in other areas. If Environment Canterbury 's proposal is accepted by the Hearing Panel, it may affect landowners who were not affected by the notified version. Land in the overlay may be affected by specific rules in the Natural Hazards Chapter of the PDP.

The Hearing Panel has indicated it is appropriate that the Plan include the updated flooding information. However, the Panel is concerned that landowners in the revised areas may not have reasonably foreseen that they would be impacted by Environment Canterbury's proposal. The Panel therefore directed the Timaru District Council to publicly notify the updated flooding information for further submissions, so those affected can have their say.

Further Submissions on the Summary of Decisions Requested (Summary of Submissions) Addendum - Flood Assessment Area Map

Timaru District Council gives public notice that an Addendum to the Summary of Decisions Requested (the Addendum) on the Proposed Timaru District Plan (PDP) is now available and further submissions, in the prescribed form, can now be lodged as provided in Clauses 7 and 8 of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The District Plan is required by the RMA to manage land use (how we use the land) and subdivision in the District. It contains objectives, policies, rules and standards to address issues and must achieve the RMA's goal of sustainable management.

The full public notice, Addendum and Submission Form can be downloaded below:

• Public Notice - Summary of Decisions Requested (SoDR) Addendum 3 for Flood Map (pdf, 193.2 KB updated 16-Jul-2025)
• SoDR Addendum 3 for Flood Map (pdf, 235.9 KB updated 16-Jul-2025)
• Form 6 - SoDR Addendum 3 for Flood Map (docx, 68.9 KB updated 16-Jul-2025)

Addendum to the Summary of Decisions Requested (Summary of Submissions)

On 4 March 2024, the Timaru District Council publicly notified a Summary of Decisions Requested (Summary of Submissions) on the Proposed District Plan (PDP) and invited further submissions. The Summary of Submissions identified that Environment Canterbury [183.28] requested that the PDP planning maps be amended to encompass a wider area potentially subject to flood hazard risk. No proposed revised map was supplied.

Revised Flood Assessment Area Overlay map

The revised Flood Assessment Area overlay can be viewed below. The mapping tool also includes the notified flood assessment area map to help users to see the differences.

You can view this map in your own browser by visiting  The Timaru District Flood Assessment Area Overlay Comparison

Further submissions invited

Timaru District Council invites further submissions relating to the revised Flood Assessment Area Overlay map. A further submission is a submission made in support of, or opposition to, another person's submission (made under clauses 5 and 6). It provides an opportunity to assess the effect an original submission may have on you, and to have your views considered alongside the original submission. The further submission must be in accordance with Form 6 of the Resource Management (Forms, Fees, and Procedure) Regulations 2003.

Relevant documents

This section includes all documents pertinent to the requested changes in flooding maps. It encompasses the original submissions that requested the change of Flood Assessment Areas map. As land that is within the Flood Assessment Area is managed in the Natural Hazard Chapter, officer reports and replies which include recommended amendments to the Natural Hazard Chapter are also included. Panel Minutes direct this notification and associated Memoranda of Counsel are also listed below.

The original submission from Canterbury Regional Council:

Submission - No. 183 Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury)

The submission point is summarised below:

As outlined in the public notice, further submissions on the Summary of Submissions Addendum are now being called for. Further submissions are limited to matters in support of, or in opposition to, a submission point contained in the Addendum.

Making a Further Submission

Further submissions are an opportunity for you to assess the effect an original submission may have on you, and to have your views considered alongside the original submission. You do not need to have made an original submission on the PDP to be able to make a further submission on the Addendum.

Requirements for making a Further Submission

Any person may make a further submission if:

• they represent a relevant aspect of the public interest, or
• they have an interest greater than the general public, or
• the Council itself.

Further submissions can only be made in support or opposition, or part thereof, of an original submission. This is not an opportunity to introduce new submission points, only to respond to the points raised by others in their submissions.

How to make a Further Submission

A further submission must include the information requested in Form 6 of the Resource Management Act 1991.  We recommend you use the provided Form to complete your submission:

Form 6 - SoDR Addendum 3 for Flood Map

A further submission can also be made using a letter format. In order for the further submission to be considered using this format, the following information must be included:

• your full name and/or name of organisation you represent;
• your postal address (so information can be sent to you) and contact number/s;
• whether or not you wish to be heard in support of your further submission at a Council hearing;
• if others make a similar submission, whether you would be prepared to consider presenting a joint case with them at any hearing;
• your signature and the date (signature not required if further submission is emailed).

And for each decision requested you wish to submit on:

• the name of the person/organisation who made the original submission that you are making your further submission on;
• the original ‘submission point unique ID that you are making your further submission on;
• whether you support or oppose the original submission;
• the particular parts of the submission you support of oppose;
• your reasons for supporting or opposing the submission;
• whether you seek the whole/or part of the submission be allowed/or disallowed.

Further submissions can be:

• Emailed to: pdp@timdc.govt.nz - Subject line: PDP Further Submission
• Posted to: Timaru District Council, PO Box 522, Timaru, 7940
• Delivered to a Council Service Centre in Timaru, Temuka or Geraldine.

A copy of your further submission must be served on the original submitter (in this case, Environment Canterbury) within 5 working days after it is served on the Timaru District Council.

Contact details for Environmental Canterbury are as follows:

Struck out of Further Submissions

Please note that your submission (or part of your submission) may be struck out if the authority is satisfied that at least 1 of the following applies to the submission (or part of the submission):

• It is frivolous or vexatious;
• It discloses no reasonable or relevant case;
• It would be an abuse of the hearing process to allow the submission (or the part) to be taken further;
• It contains offensive language;
• It is supported only by material that purports to be independent expert evidence, but has been prepared by a person who is not independent or who does not have sufficient specialised knowledge or skill to give expert advice on the matter.

Privacy Act 2020

Information supplied within a further submission will be made publicly available as part of the decision-making process.

Last updated: 17 Jul 2025