The Waitaki Property Guardians Inc has arisen from the grassroots out of a procession of worried landowners fronting up at Waitaki District Council meetings pleading for its draft district plan to be paused — and amid very loud signals the governing legal framework is about to be changed by the government.
The newly formed guardians hope they will gain traction following "growing apprehension" on the part of landowners, Waitaki Property Guardians chairwoman Kate Macgregor said.
"The primary goal of Waitaki Property Guardians is to advocate for the interests of local landowners and residents, ensuring their voices are heard and considered in the discussions and decision making.
"For over three years now, since draft mapping overlays were provided to affected ratepayers ... we have been trying to work with council," Ms Macgregor, a farmer and farm consultant, said.
The importance of development and planning was recognised but "we must ensure it aligns with the needs and aspirations of our community".
They wanted to influence the council plan process positively.
This included ensuring "genuine areas" of natural and cultural significance were protected.
The lack of "genuine engagement" over the proposed mapping for the plan had been disappointing, Ms Macgregor said.
She said "a collaborative environment" was needed to ensure landowners were actively engaged. They needed "a real say" in council decisions.
The draft plan is to be notified in early 2025 — meaning some aspects will be legally binding immediately.
Ms Macgregor said the new group had been working together for a while.
It planned to represent all Waitaki landowners, rural and urban.
"We felt like we were needing to do something else because we weren’t getting through [to the council].
"I feel like councillors are listening, I feel like council staff aren’t."
And the dissonance between rural aspirations and officialdom was profound.
"I work for a number of farmers, and I have been trying to communicate with council and haven’t been getting any response ... I understand where landowners are coming from."
Waitaki District Plan chairman Jim Thomson said the concern driving the group was tangible.
There was some synergy between the council table and the new group, he said.
"I know quite a few of the people and I have the upmost respect for what they have done.
"Anytime they have contacted me, it’s been with the desire to do the best for the district," Cr Thomson said.
The district plan subcommittee was due to work through the last of the proposed new land use maps.
"There’s still information that staff are bringing back and changes that the subcommittee requested.
"Of course there are a constant stream of comments coming out of the government on changes they intend to make.
"It’s a really fluid situation," Cr Thomson said.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said he was pleased the group had emerged.
"We’ve had some good constructive discussions with the members before the group was formed.
"I look forward to engaging with them. It’s certainly helpful in this particular discussion to be able to talk to a group of property owners.
But the district plan process was fairly prescribed, for council staff, elected representatives and the public.
"We’re tying to walk the balance between what the rules are we’ve got to work with and what the new government is proposing," he said.
