Subdividing

Anyone wanting to subdivide land within the District has to obtain a subdivision consent under the Resource Management Act 1991 from Council.

The Southland District Plan contains rules regarding the manner in which subdivision can be undertaken within the District, where this can occur, and how intensively the land can be subdivided.

The following are issues that need to be considering when subdividing:

• Whether the land is subject to any natural or man-made hazards, such as potential for flooding, or land filling
• Whether the land is in an area where reticulated water, sewerage and /or stormwater systems are available, and if so whether these systems have sufficient capacity to cater for the proposed subdivision
• If reticulated sewerage is not available, whether the land is suitable and the proposed allotments are of sufficient size for sustainable on-site effluent and wastewater disposal
• If the site adjoins a watercourse, whether this watercourse is subject to a statutory acknowledgement under the Ngai Tahu Claims Settelement Act 1998, and whether the water body is subject to esplanade mechanisms under the Southland District Plan for the maintenance and enhancement of public access
• Whether the land to be subdivided contains any sites of iwi or archaeological significance
• Whether the land to be subdivided is beneath any identified airport approach vectors for existing airports, or within any identified buffer zones of existing sewerage ponds
• Whether the land adjoins a State Highway, in which case liaison with the New Zealand Transport Agency will be required
• Whether there are any high voltage power supply lines crossing the site, in which case liaison with Transpower New Zealand will be required
• Whether the site is subject to any known geological hazards such as former mine workings or known geological faults or slips
• Whether the site currently receives water from any Council reticulated rural water supply schemes
• Whether the proposed access arrangements are safe and adequate and whether any financial contribution payments towards road upgrading is likely to be required
• Whether any development contribution payments are likely to be required towards water, sewerage and/or stormwater upgrading

If you have a subdivision query, contact resource management staff to make an appointment to discuss this. They can then research these matters in advance and provide you with information.

For details on financial contributions, please click to read Council's Development and Reserves Contribution Policy.

Other Council bylaws/policies with relevant information are:

Subdivision and Land Development Bylaw 
Roading Policy