A designation is a ‘spot zoning’ over a site, area or route that authorises the requiring authority’s work and activity without the need to comply with the zone rules or obtain a resource consent and protects land for future public works. A requiring authority includes Ministers of the Crown, local authorities and network utility operators approved as requiring authorities under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). Requiring authorities can only make a designation where they are financially responsible for the project, work, or operation on the designated land. Conditions of the designation set parameters for which the activity can occur in accordance with the purpose of that designation.
Many of the designations in the Operative District Plan are expected to be rolled over into the Proposed District Plan. Most of these works have already been given effect to. It is likely that there will be new designations sought by requiring authorities.