Stage

Notification - at this stage the variation or change has a "proposed" status.

Seeking Submissions – submissions are sought and received.

Submissions closed - Council staff produce a summary of decisions requested (SODR), which is notified and further submissions are sought.

Seeking Further submissions – further submissions are sought and received.

Further submissions closed - Council staff produce an officer report which includes an evaluation and recommendation for each submission to the hearing panel.

Hearings – submitters and further submitters who indicated they wish to be heard on their submissions are invited to speak to the hearing panel on behalf of their submission.

Deliberations – the hearing panel considers all the information they have received before making decisions on submissions.

Decisions – Notification of the Council decision on submissions. The variation or change is amended per the decisions but retains its “proposed” status.

Appeals are invited – Any one who made a submission on the variation or change can appeal the decision of the council to the Environment Court.

Environment Court – The Environment Court release its decisions on appeals and the variation or change is amended as directed.

Operative - Following the resolution of any appeals to the Environment Court or subsequent appeals to higher courts, the final step in the process is for Environment Canterbury to make the Proposed Canterbury Natural Resources Regional Plan or any plan Variation/Change, operative.

Public Participation in the Variation or Plan Change process

When a variation/change is notified anyone who feels they are affected is invited, over a specified period, to make a submission. After the closing of submissions, Canterbury Regional Council will publicly notify the availability of a summary of all decisions requested in submissions (SODR), and will allow a period for further submissions in support of, or in opposition to, those submissions already made. Environment Canterbury will then hold a hearing into all submissions. All submitters giving notice of their wish to be heard will be advised of the hearing. Following the release of decisions by the Canterbury Regional Council, including its reasons for accepting or rejecting submissions, any person who made a submission has a right of appeal to the Environment Court.