A sizeable further part of the Queenstown Lakes District Council District Plan will become operative from next week, QLDC chief executive Duncan Field said.

"Basically the Environment Court has resolved a number of outstanding issues and granted consent to the Council to make further parts of the Proposed District Plan operative," Mr Field said.

The decision represented resolution on a number of outstanding issues.

The Council experienced a milestone in September last year when a large section of the District Plan became operative for the first time.

"I think this decision once again gives certainty to the many parties, including the Council on behalf of the community, that have been working towards a resolve," Mr Field said.

The Council was able to give notice of the Environment Court decision last week, with the further parts of the plan becoming operative on Monday, 25 July, 2005.

"This moves us a step closer to completing what has been a costly and time consuming process begun in 1995," Mr Field said.

Those parts of the plan which have yet to be resolved include; scenic rural roads, some specific zoning issues and financial contributions.

A full copy of the Environment Court decision granting consent to the Queenstown Lakes District Council to make further parts of the Proposed District Plan operative, including a schedule of those parts that will be operative, can be viewed here or at Council offices, libraries or CivicCorp offices.

ENDS

For further information please contact Duncan Field 03 441 0499.

By: Tamah