Regulatory Committee Agenda - Waipa District Council

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There will be no adverse visual or traffic effects as a result of the proposed
subdivision. An amendment to the requirement for a telecommunication cable
connection is considered to be appropriate in this instance and, subject to the
appropriate consent notice being imposed, the effects of not providing a connection
will be insignificant.
7.3 Operative and Proposed District Plans
7.3.1 Operative Waipa District Plan- Rules
The Applicants have sought an amendment to the provision of telecommunication
cabling to allow for alternative methods of connection to the network. Rule
10.5.1.2{c) requires every allotment to be "connected to network utility services
particularly sewerage, water, stormwater, electricity and telephone reticulation". This
provision is supported by Rule 10.10.7 of the Operative District Plan requires "every
allotment in any subdivision shall be provided by the subdivider at the time of
subdivision with telecommunications".
As part of the applicant's application they provided a copy of the quote from Chorus
to install a connection . The quoted price is $33,053.00. A copy of this letter is
included in Appendix 4.
The applicants have also provided commentary from discussions with Chorus whom
explained the $33,000 fee would cover the cost of installing a new line along Wallace
Road. Future connections to the new line would then be available for at a fee of
$2,070.
An exemption to the prov1s1on of telecommunication connection has only been
approved once in the Waipa District where evidence from Chorus indicated it would
cost over $40,000 to install a connection. The Applicants who received the exemption
also provided evidence of an existing phone connection (via No.8 Wire) and the
potential that the site could obtain an internet connection (via Farmside), to
demonstrate alternatives were available. Evidence of alternative wireless technology
{NetSmart) available to the subject site has been provided by the Applicants. That
application was also different because of its location, Rotongata Road, and because
the allotment to be created was around an existing dwelling, not a vacant allotment,
as proposed here.
It is considered that granting consent for an alternative to the requirements for the
provision of telecommunication connection to a new allotment is appropriate in this
instance as is the cost of supply is cost prohibitive and alternatives are available.
7 .3.2 Operative Waipa District Plan- Objectives and Policies
The objectives and policies of the Operative Waipa District Plan relevant to this
application follow and are commented on as follows.
Report to Regulatory Committee Meeting- November 2012
AH & CA Baker- Section 127 Application - Planners Report
Page 8
12203858SP 0113 11.01 - Regulatory Report