Agenda of Community Committee Meeting - Tuesday, 10 December 2024

Community Committee Meeting Agenda

10 December 2024

Community Committee

Membership:

Chairperson	Cr Margaret Murray-Benge
Deputy Chairperson	Cr Grant Dally
Members	Cr Tracey Coxhead Mayor James Denyer Cr Murray Grainger Cr Anne Henry Cr Rodney Joyce Cr Laura Rae Deputy Mayor John Scrimgeour Cr Allan Sole Cr Don Thwaites Cr Andy Wichers John Clements (Chair - Katikati Community Board) Tippany Hopping (Chair - Maketu Community Board) Chris Dever (Chair - Ōmokoroa Community Board) Kassie Ellis (Chair - Te Puke Community Board) Dani Simpson (Chair – Waihī Beach Community)
Quorum	Nine (9)
Frequency	Quarterly

Role:

Subject to compliance with Council strategies, policies, plans and legislation:

· To maintain an overview of Council’s community-led outcomes delivery, with a focus on the social, economic, cultural and environmental work programmes, as set out in the Long-Term Plan.

· To maintain an overview of Council’s local housing systems plan delivery, and make recommendations to Council and its Committees on appropriate actions to address priority matters.

· To maintain an overview of local climate change plans and make recommendations to Council and its Committees on appropriate actions to address priority matters.

· To receive reports from Convenors of Community Forums and make recommendations to Council and its Committees on appropriate actions to address priority matters arising from Community Forums.

· To administer specific funds of Council that contribute to improving community wellbeing.

Scope:

Social Wellbeing

· Monitor progress on Council’s community safety programme.

· Monitor (annually) local service delivery contracts relating to social wellbeing.

· Receive updates on the Community Events Fund allocations.

· Receive updates on the progress of local housing system plans.

· Receive updates on community emergency response planning and community resilience work.

· Consider and decide applications to the Community Matching Fund.

· Consider and decide applications to the Facilities in the Community Fund.

Environmental Wellbeing

· Receive updates on the Natural Environment and Sustainable Living Programme.

· Receive updates on the progress of local climate change plans.

· Monitor (annually) local service delivery contracts relating to environmental wellbeing.

· Consider and decide applications to the Community Matching Fund – ecological component.

Cultural Wellbeing

· Receive updates on the Creative Communities Scheme funding allocations.

· Receive updates on the cultural events supported by Council.

· Monitor progress on the Welcoming Communities programme and prioritise actions and activities.

Economic Wellbeing

· Receive updates (annually) from Priority One and Tourism Bay of Plenty.

· Monitor (annually) local service delivery contracts relating to economic wellbeing.

Delegations:

To receive the priority matters arising from Community Forums and make recommendations to Council and its Committees.

Power to recommend:

To Council and/or any Committee as it deems appropriate.

Power to sub-delegate:

The Committee may delegate any of its functions, duties or powers to a subcommittee, working group or other subordinate decision-making body subject to the restrictions on its delegations and provided that any sub-delegation includes a statement of purpose and specification of task.

Community Committee Meeting Agenda

10 December 2024

9.2 Welcoming Communities Programme Accreditation 2024-2027

File Number: A6542445

Author: Sam Wilburn, Community Outcomes Advisor

Authoriser: Rachael Davie, Deputy CEO/General Manager Strategy and Community

Executive Summary

1. This report provides the Community Committee with an overview of the Welcoming Communities accreditation application 2024-2027. The impact stories to be submitted as part of the application are attached to this report as Attachment 1.

2. The Welcoming Communities programme, supported by Immigration New Zealand, the Office of Ethnic Communities, and the Human Rights Commission, helps councils create inclusive, socially cohesive, and economically vibrant communities where newcomers feel valued. The Western Bay of Plenty District Council (WBOPDC), while no longer in formal partnership with Tauranga City Council, maintains a strong collaborative relationship. WBOPDC is advancing to the "Advanced Welcoming Community" accreditation, becoming one of the few councils in New Zealand to reach Stage 3. This achievement, outlined in the 2024-2027 Accreditation Plan, reflects a commitment to deeper community integration, economic involvement, and cultural inclusivity.

Recommendation

1. That the Community Outcomes Advisor’s report dated 10 December 2024 titled ‘Welcoming Communities Programme Accreditation 2024-2027’ be received.

Background

3. In 2018, in recognition that the Western Bay of Plenty was becoming an increasingly multi-ethnic community, WBOPDC and Tauranga City Council engaged in the “Welcoming Communities” pilot programme.

4. The Western Bay of Plenty has growing ethnic diversity. In the 2013 Census there were 525 people who identified as Pacific Peoples, and 1932 people who identified as Asian. Only 72 people identified as “MELAA” (Middle Eastern/Latin American / African.). Ten years later, the 2023 Census shows there are now 849 people who identified as Pacific peoples (62% increase), 3633 people who identified as Asian (88% increase) and 291 people who identified as “MELAA” (304% increase). Across the district communities have different demographics. Te Puke in particular has a high Asian population (20.3%).

5. Council needs to consider different ways of engaging with newcomers, who may have very different cultural backgrounds and have English as a second language. This is both to support newcomers engaging in what council does and having their voices represented, as well as engaging in their local communities.

6. The purpose of the Welcoming Communities Programme is to ensure newcomers are welcomed and supported in their new communities. There are both social and economic benefits to this: Socially it means newcomers can contribute their skills, talents and knowledge to their local communities. Economically it means newcomers can contribute effectively either through their own businesses or through their workplaces, as they have the right connections and networks in place to do this. And it means the District remains attractive to newcomers, and can therefore benefit from the skills newcomers bring.

7. For WBOPDC, there is the added need to provide a safe and welcoming environment for seasonal workers, many of whom come from overseas. The horticultural sector in particular is key to our economy, and relies heavily on seasonal workers. It is critical the area is known as a good place to come and work for a season, or to return to from one season to the next if that is an option. A key part of that is how seasonal workers are welcomed and supported by the wider community.

8. WBOPDC and Tauranga City Council have actively engaged in Welcoming Communities since the 2018 pilot, receiving "Established Welcoming Community" accreditation in 2020. Moving forward, WBOPDC aims to elevate to "Advanced Welcoming Community" status, emphasising enhanced community integration, economic participation, and cultural inclusivity through the 2024-2027 Western Bay of Plenty District Councils Welcoming Communities Accreditation Plan.

9. The four-tiered accreditation framework—ranging from Committed to Excelling—recognises councils for their progress in implementing welcoming initiatives, with each level offering increased support and benefits. For the 2024 accreditation, WBOPDC will document "Stories of Impact" that demonstrate the programme's positive community impact, showcasing initiatives aligned with the eight Welcoming Communities Standard elements.

10. This programme reinforces WBOPDCs commitment to supporting a diverse, inclusive community that values newcomers, fosters a sense of belonging, and contributes to a prosperous regional future.

Welcoming COMMUNITIES’ accreditation 2024-2027

11. Accreditation in the Welcoming Communities programme strengthens a council’s appeal to newcomers by showcasing its commitment to inclusivity, while also providing a framework to assess progress and celebrate achievements. Accredited councils join a global network, enhancing access to resources, support, and opportunities to share their welcoming practices on a national and international scale.

12. The Welcoming Communities accreditation model comprises four stages, each with escalating requirements and benefits:

i Stage 1: A "Committed Welcoming Community," where a council commits to participating in the programme and completes an application.

ii Stage 2: An "Established Welcoming Community," where the council, in collaboration with its community, submits an application and a self-assessment workbook.

iii Stage 3: An "Advanced Welcoming Community," where additional criteria must be met, including a site visit.

iv Stage 4: An "Excelling Welcoming Community," the highest level of accreditation, also requiring a site visit.

The progression from Stage 2 to Stage 4 involves a more thorough application process, including the submission of detailed "Stories of Impact" and assessments from the Welcoming Communities External Accreditation Assessment Panel.

13. The process focuses on "Stories of Impact," showcasing community initiatives and engagements that align with the Welcoming Communities Standard, enabling the council to effectively demonstrate its commitment to fostering inclusivity. (see attached Welcoming Communities Accreditation)

14. Western Bay of Plenty District Council has submitted its application to advance from Stage 2 to Stage 3 accreditation in the Welcoming Communities programme. This would position us as one of the first councils in New Zealand to reach this level.

15. The application is currently under review, with the accreditation results to be finalised later. See attached Welcoming Communities Accreditation 2024-2027 “Stories of Impact” submission.

Funding/Budget Implications

16. Through the latest Long-Term Plan (2024-2034), Western Bay of Plenty District Council has allocated funding to support migrant and cultural initiatives. These initiatives are aimed at achieving social and cultural wellbeing within the district. The key allocations include:

Budget Funding Information

Relevant Detail

$41,120 p.a

$15,728 p.a

Community Development - Welcoming Communities Programme Community Development - Migrant Support Grant

Attachments

1. Welcoming Communities Accreditation Stories of Impact ⇩

Community Committee Meeting Agenda

10 December 2024

10 Information for Receipt

10.1 Housing Action Plan 2024: Progress report

File Number: A6531888

Author: Simone Cuers, Strategic Housing Programme Lead

Authoriser: Rachael Davie, Deputy CEO/General Manager Strategy and Community

Executive Summary

1. Council established Enabling Housing as one of five strategic priorities and a key focus of the 2024-2034 Long Term Plan and other work we do. The following goals and roles were determined for council to progress Enabling Housing as a strategic priority.

(a) What we want to achieve: Housing that is affordable, accessible, habitable with security of tenure, and appropriate to our life stages and differing needs.

(b) What we see our role being:

(i) Leader - The lead agency for facilitating local housing strategies and action plans to deliver local housing outcomes.

(ii) Enabler - Providing opportunities for housing through land use zoning, infrastructure to support housing development, accessing Central Government funding, and streamlining the consent process.

(iii) Provider - Specific housing projects delivered that align with community needs identified in local housing plans and making use of opportunities Council can provide with its elder housing portfolio.

2. This strategic priority laid the foundation for setting the continued direction and priorities in council’s housing work. In June 2024, the Strategy and Policy Committee adopted Housing Action Plan 2024.

3. The purpose of this report is to provide a progress report to the Community Committee on implementation of Housing Action Plan 2024.

Background

4. In 2018 we set out the Western Bay of Plenty District Council (WBOPDC) Housing Action Plan, which described the actions Council could take where we have an influence on improving the housing situation. The 2018 Plan outlined the strategies and how we need to work together with other stakeholders involved in housing delivery to achieve the vision.

5. In June 2022, the Policy Committee confirmed Council’s role as the lead agency for facilitating local housing strategies and action plans to deliver on local housing outcomes to improve community wellbeing.

6. Council established Enabling Housing as one of five strategic priorities which laid the foundation for setting the direction and priorities in council’s housing work. To this end, the Community Committee workshopped the discussion paper for the Housing Action Plan (HAP) 2024 on 3 April. Feedback from the Community Committee was used to finalise the Draft HAP 2024 and in June 2024 the Strategy and Policy Committee adopted the Housing Action Plan 2024. This plan was a refresh of Housing Action Plan 2018.

7. This report provides a progress report to the Community Committee on implementation of each of the twenty-nine actions in Housing Action Plan 2024 since its adoption in June.

Actions that support outcomes across the entire housing continuum

1. Facilitate local housing networks to develop and implement place-based housing strategies, including providing a strong evidence base for strategies by completing local housing needs assessments.

Key aims for the Te Puke and Katikati Housing Networks are to build cross sector connections, along with galvanising action and partnerships for delivery. Both Networks meet regularly and achieve consistently high attendance rates. The early development of a clear shared picture of their local housing systems, via evidence-based housing needs reports, has supported the drafting of housing systems plans providing an agreed direction for both networks. We are working together with iwi, local businesses, developers, social housing providers, social and health service providers, community groups, and central government to implement the local housing plans.

Highlights include:

· The value of central government’s participation in the networks is evident in the MHUD housing delivery funding into both Te Puke and Katikati communities - contributing to delivery of social and community housing, and affordable rental housing (funding Council and Abbeyfield WBOP to deliver a total of 40 units of housing in Katikati). Kāinga Ora is delivering social housing in both Katikati (18 dwellings) and Te Puke (30 dwellings).

· An example of the networks providing a vehicle for galvanising action around complex housing issues is MSD’s engagement in the Katikati network improving collaboration between central government, council, and local support services around homeless people with complex needs to achieve housing outcomes. Another example is the Bay of Plenty Housing Equity Fund’s engagement with both networks, seeking opportunities to invest in housing outcomes in our communities.

· Having an evidenced based housing needs assessment can give developers confidence in proposed projects. For example, a developer in Katikati is planning to deliver an alternative tenure model for seniors and via the network met with council staff who drafted the housing needs assessment report and met with a large group of seniors to obtain feedback on the proposed model. The development will provide 6 dwellings in the initial project.

The Te Puke housing needs assessment provided some important baseline information for the Te Puke Spatial Plan. The overall housing picture and up-to-date insights provided by the Te Puke Housing Network are an important input into the Spatial Plan.

2. Spatial planning in accordance with requirements of Future Development Strategy.

Work is progressing on the Te Puke Spatial Plan looking at the urban areas of Te Puke, with consideration for the connections to and from Waitangi and Manoeka. The spatial plan provides a blueprint for growth and development within identified areas for the next 30 to 50 years. We are reviewing community feedback and continuing discussions with our tangata whenua partners and stakeholders. In the middle of 2025, we are planning to share the draft Te Puke Spatial Plan with the community and get feedback. Future spatial planning will be prioritised through the policy and planning work programme.

3. Knowledge sharing and engagement e.g. via council’s website, housing networks, and other specific forums.

Information has been published on council’s website on a wide range of housing topics along with links to further information. This ranges from ways to get assistance with housing, details of council’s housing work programme, council’s support for development of affordable housing via FINCO reductions, our contribution to funding the Healthy Housing Programme, housing on whenua Māori, getting into home ownership via shared home ownership programmes, where to find help if struggling to meet housing costs and more.

4. Internal council process improvement, including timeframes for consenting.

A business improvement plan has been developed for the Resource Consent service area following an independent review of Council’s resource consent system. The purpose of the business improvement plan is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of resource consents, noting that housing delivery is a Council strategic priority and therefore a key area of focus. The plan is focused on 4 key themes:

§ Directly engaging with major developers and repeat customers;

§ Creating more time for senior staff to manage complex consents;

§ Driving a culture of enabling quality development; and

§ Driving an integrated Council view.

Project Managers have been engaged to support implementation and several initiatives have been actioned, including a new pre-application service and improved communications with major developers and key agents. All remaining actions will be implemented in 2025.

5. Monitoring and sharing data and indicators of local housing situations

Census 2023 data has just started being released which we are accessing along with the annual Household Economic Surveys. Council has also commissioned a housing research report on housing affordability and housing stress. In part this is an update to a 2020 Accessible Properties Ltd commissioned report “Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty – Housing affordability stress outcomes”. The research covers both WBOPDC and TCC areas and provides up-to-date data on housing needs as well as details on sizing the different cohorts in each part of the housing continuum. This means up-to-date data will be available for housing planning and delivery going forward. Sizing the cohorts for needing affordable rental housing and shared home ownership for example is useful in planning specific tenures. Stage 1 of the report is complete, and Stage 2 will be complete in early 2025. We will provide access to the information to interested stakeholders and one way we will do this is to post the reports on council’s website.

6. Support provision of habitable housing: warm, dry healthy homes

a. Continue to partner with the Twenty Degrees Programme for improving housing quality in high needs communities.

Council’s commitment to improving access to adequate housing is clear and is published in the Long-Term Plan 2024-2034. Twenty Degrees have delivered a total of 273 repair and maintenance activities on WBOPDC homes since July 1st, 2024. This list illustrates the wide range of activities undertaken to ensure housing is healthy, warm, and dry:

¾ 3 community workshops, 84 referrals and 28 visits

¾ 26 new R&M referrals

¾ 5 ceilings insulated

¾ 5 underfloors insulated

¾ 2 ground vapour barriers installed

¾ 5 heat pumps installed

¾ 6 portable heaters delivered

¾ 7 bathroom extraction units installed

¾ 6 broken windows repaired

¾ 11 homes with draught proofed windows

¾ 11 homes with draught proofed doors

¾ 16 homes with latches, door handles and joinery fixes

¾ 19 homes with curtains installed

¾ 6 homes with cladding repairs

¾ 2 homes with roof repairs

¾ 2 homes with gutter and downpipe repairs

b. Provide information about the range of healthy homes programmes to our communities, (including low interest/no interest loans).

Details about the Twenty Degrees Programme has been published on council’s website under Homes for Our Communities. (https://www.westernbay.govt.nz/council/strategic-priorities/homes-for-our-communities). Sustainability Options Ltd who run the Twenty Degrees Programme recently spoke to Te Kāhui Mana Whenua o Tauranga Moana - Tauranga Moana Tangata Whenua forum and Te Ihu o te Waka o Te Arawa - Te Arawa ki Tai Tangata Whenua forum with the aim of raising awareness of and extending the reach of the program.

Information about no interest/low interest loans for healthy homes upgrades have been published on council’s website.

c. Provide information about energy efficient homes, including cleaner heating options.

We have published information about government’s Warmer Kiwi Homes program, energy efficient homes and cleaner heating options on council’s website.

7. Support provision of accessible housing

Information about accessible housing has been published on council’s website under Homes for Our Communities, incorporating information about Lifemark design guidance.

8. Explore the District Plan and other tools to incentivise design and construction for access and mobility

Information about accessible housing guidance has been published on council’s website under Homes for Our Communities. Providing private market homes which are accessible is an incentive to development industry as accessible homes are suitable for a wide population now, and into the future.

Specific Actions on Housing Delivery: project delivery in the short term

9. Redevelop Council’s Elder Housing in Katikati

Construction is well underway for redeveloping Elder Housing units in Katikati on Heron Crescent. The finished product will see the eleven original 40-year-old units replaced with 26 new modern units, all of which are funded by central government grants. The project is on schedule for completion August 2025.

10. Support current housing project initiatives on whenua Māori across the District:

a. Facilitate feasibility studies and progress next steps for whenua Māori housing development with Te Arawa ki Tai

Council is working with Te Arawa ki Tai to progress their housing aspirations on whenua Māori. Council is supporting development feasibility on land blocks to determine how many homes could be developed on each block. The work will lead to new homes being developed on whenua Māori. Feasibility studies and associated infrastructure and planning reports are due at the end November 2024.

b. Facilitate feasibility studies and next steps for whenua Māori housing development at Tuapiro marae

Council is supporting development feasibility at Tuapiro Marae. Resource consent application has been lodged for 10 papakāinga and is being processed.

c. Support whenua Māori housing development at Tawhitinui marae

Council continues to work with Tawhitinui marae on progressing their housing aspirations. The current project is for 22 dwellings. Council has approved a FINCO reduction in accordance with policy.

d. Progress changes to the District Plan to support Papakāinga developments

Changes to the District Plan to support Papakāinga developments are underway via Plan Change 96 – Papakāinga. The Plan Change revises District Plan rules to better support papakāinga development, for homes and community facilities on certain Māori land. Papakāinga development offers a culturally significant solution to a lack of housing by providing homes and community facilities on whenua Māori, allowing whānau to live according to Te Ao Māori and strengthening their connection to the land.

The current District Plan includes rules intended to enable papakāinga development, but these rules have not fully supported the aspirations of Māori for developing papakāinga as intended. The changes aim to provide a greater opportunity for the development of papakāinga on ancestral land, whilst also managing the adverse effects development has on the environment. Council has just finished early engagement with the wider community and key stakeholders so that this input can help shape the Plan Change.

11. Explore options to utilise Council-owned land in Kotahi Lane, Katikati, to leverage housing outcomes that meet identified gaps in the housing continuum.

An in-house site analysis has been competed incorporating constraints and opportunities of the site. The next step is to discuss the analysis with Council and then approach private developers to gauge interest and an understanding of how the market would view the site.

Further Actions based on income quintiles across the housing continuum

Income Quintile 1. Emergency Housing, Social and Community Housing

12. Council staff ensure homeless people have access to information about where to obtain support to access housing.

Council has developed a comprehensive brochure ‘Need a hand to get a roof over your head? Help is at hand’ which lists information about ways to help people into housing as well as a range of other support services. Council staff which connect with people who are homeless, offer them the information and council libraries have them on display. It is updated annually.

13. Remain an active member of Kāinga Tupu Homelessness Taskforce and contribute to implementation of the Kāinga Tupu WBOP Homelessness Strategy 2023 – 2028.

Council actively participates in Taskforce meetings and has implemented many actions in the Homeless Strategy, including but not limited to:

¾ Recognise and reflect the housing needs of homeless people and those in housing stress, when planning housing supply

¾ Develop evidence-based Housing Action Plans

¾ Use resources to leverage housing outcomes and co-investment that meet identified gaps in the housing continuum, particularly for tenures such as assisted rental and assisted ownership housing

¾ Enable social and community housing provision

¾ Support development of housing on whenua Māori

14. Support social housing developments in Te Puke, in partnership with other potential providers

There are 86 additional public housing places being delivered or planned for Te Puke, with 13 already delivered by APL through their 13 one-bedroom unit development at Seddon Street, and 30 under construction with Kāinga Ora.

15. Support social housing development in Katikati, in partnership with Kāinga Ora

Kāinga Ora’s project at 24 Middlebrook Drive has progressed with the resource consent signed off in August 2024. Council’s construction of the road is now complete. The development is 18 units, mainly two-bedroom typology.

16. Continued provision of Council incentives to enable social and community housing via council’s Finco reductions

In August 2024 Council approved a FINCO reduction for the Tawhitinui marae housing project. Abbeyfield WBOP also accessed a FINCO reduction in their 14-bedroom affordable rental development for seniors in Katikati based on the fact it is community housing.

Income Quintile 2. Affordable/Assisted Rental and Assisted Ownership

17. Advocate for assisted ownership programs and communicate these to WBOPDC communities

Details about current assisted home ownership programs have been published on council’s website.

18. Monitor implementation of inclusionary zoning in other jurisdictions, and potentially explore inclusionary zoning in the district

The Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) proposed an Inclusionary Housing Variation to their District Plan which would have required most new residential subdivisions and developments to provide an affordable housing financial contribution. This contribution would have been collected by the Council and provided to the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust (or another registered Community Housing Provider) to fund affordable housing for low to moderate-income residents. However, after a public hearing and a recommendation report by an Independent Hearings Panel (IHP), the QLDC decided to withdraw the Variation on August 1, 2024. The IHP was not satisfied that the Variation was an effective way to achieve the objective and that all reasonable practicable alternative options had been assessed.

At the same meeting it was noted officers would develop an alternative plan for providing affordable housing and the existing affordable housing provisions in the District Plan would remain in place. The annual monitoring report, (September 2024), for the QLD Joint Housing Action Plan 2023-2028 lists strategies within that plan which are relevant to developing the alternative plan for providing affordable housing. These include, but are not limited to: rates, development contributions, developer agreements, opportunities via new legislation and consider applying the MDRS to enable more competitive land markets.

19. Identify and support new project opportunities as they emerge

Council supported Abbeyfield WBOP in project scoping and development for the Katikati Abbeyfield house. The result is 14 places for seniors to reside in an Abbeyfield house in Katikati. We continue to identify projects through the housing networks, and through our consents and environmental planning teams who have regular meetings with local developers.

20. Monitor MSD’s’ Accommodation Supplement uptake as an indication of affordability

The housing research report we have commissioned will provide this data, (details of the research report outlined in Action 5. above).

21. Explore and enable Build-to-Rent (BTR) opportunities, at below market rent rates.

Exploration of BTR opportunities in the district has indicated the model being applied in large centres like Auckland by BTR entities such as Simplicity, Ockham or New Ground Capital is not viable in smaller urban localities. Exploring how BTR could be delivered in regional localities continues.

22. Use Council-owned land to develop joint initiatives for housing developments that contribute assisted rental and assisted ownership models to the market

By the middle of 2025 Council will have achieved delivery of an additional 22 units of Elder Housing in Katikati. This is via construction of 7 Elder Housing units in Beach Road and the 26 Elder Housing units under construction currently in Heron Crescent via a joint initiative with MHUD. (The latter replaced 11 old units, so the net gain is 15 units in Heron Crescent).

23. Continued provision of council incentives to enable assisted rental and assisted home ownership by Māori and community housing providers, via Council’s Finco reductions

Resource consent for 22 dwellings on Tawhitinui Papakāinga project was granted by Council on 17 November 2023. The approved FINCO reduction has supported the financial viability of the project. Abbeyfield wBOP also accessed a FINCO reduction in their 14-bedroom affordable rental development for seniors in Katikati.

Income Quintile 3 to 5. Private market including affordable housing

24. Review the rural and residential zone provisions for minor dwellings in the District Plan, including consideration of Tiny Homes

The Government has proposed making it easier to build small, self-contained, and detached houses, commonly known as ‘granny flats’ on property with an existing home on it. In June, this year Government sought feedback on options to enable granny flats up to 60 square metres in size, to be built without needing a building or resource consent, so long as they meet certain criteria. The consultation looked at the Building Act (2004) and the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). WBOPDC provided feedback to the consultation, and we are awaiting the outcome from Government on policy settings.

25. Seasonal Worker Accommodation - update accommodation assessment, last completed in 2017, in partnership with kiwifruit sector and determine what future actions may be needed

In October 2023, the then Minister for MBIE Andrew Little published Outcomes of the Recognised Seasonal Employer policy review including proposals for labour market planning, allocation of workers, cap for 2023/24, pastoral care, health, pay and RSE worker accommodation. The proposals did not progress and following the change of government, the kiwifruit sector, (as advised via NZKGI), waited for the new government to announce its position on seasonal workers. Government announced its position at the recent RSE and Horticulture NZ Conference 2024, providing direction for the sector to move ahead with planning their workforce and associated infrastructure. Council’s work in this space was also in something of a hiatus and has recently recommenced.

26. Explore and enable Build-to-Rent (BTR) opportunities, at market rent rates

27. Explore and enable affordable to purchase opportunities, (e.g. affordable License to Occupy, Secure Homes Programs)

There is interest from the development sector to develop affordable License to Occupy housing in the district. The time from early conversations about development ideas and/or proposals to actual projects can be long, however. The benefit of having this incorporated in council housing plans and local housing network plans is the need for alternative tenures is clear, backed up by data driven evidence base. A Katikati developer has recently announced an affordable License to Occupy project aimed at the senior’s market.

28. Monitor Medium Density Residential Standards delivery in Te Puke and Ōmokoroa

The medium density residential standards were formally notified as part of Plan Change 92 on 20 August 2022. The density standards had legal effect at the time of formal notification and the subdivision rules have had legal effect since 21 March 2024. While these rules make it easier to build more homes faster, the residential development industry slow down over the last 2 years has meant we cannot yet realistically measure impact of the new rules as consents and housing construction has reduced since MDRS was introduced. In considering how many new homes the MDRS will provide for in the next decade in Western Bay of Plenty, we expect in the order of 25 ‘infill’ houses a year, and mostly in Te Puke. Ōmokoroa has less infill opportunity but instead has greenfield land for housing development that is expected to enable enough housing to satisfy demand for a number of years.

29. Ensure Council planning tools enable and encourage delivery of a mix of housing typology and price points – this includes a review of the residential zone provisions in the District Plan to explore ways to deliver a range of housing typologies

The MDRS and the spatial plans enable and encourage delivery of a mix of housing typology and price points.