Proposed Awatarariki District Plan Change and Private Plan Change Request to Bay of Plenty Regional Council

This consultation closed 22 December 2017.

Update - 22 December 2017

Awatarariki Plan Changes Initiated
The Whakatāne District Council has initiated a change to its District Plan and submitted its Private Plan Change Request to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to address the high level of risk to life on part of the Awatarariki Fanhead in Matatā. The Whakatāne District Council has requested that the Bay of Plenty Regional Council adopt the Plan Change, and it is expected that Bay of Plenty Regional Council will consider this at their 15 February Full Council meeting.


The Whakatāne District Council has resolved to change its District Plan, as well as lodge a private plan change request to Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Water and Land Plan to address the high loss of life risk to people living in the Awatarariki Stream fanhead area.

The Matatā township was struck by devastating debris flows in 2005. Engineering solutions were put in place to address the risk of future debris flows from some streams flowing from the steep escarpment catchments behind the town. Plans to mitigate the risk for the Awatarariki Stream were abandoned in 2012 following advice from experts that no viable engineering solution was available.

Contact us

If you have any questions on this matter, you can contact:

Principal Planner
07 306 0557
027 276 3824
planning@whakatane.govt.nz