PCE submission on the investigation into planning provisions in the Hamilton City Operative District Plan

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has made a submission on the investigation into planning provisions in the Hamilton City Operative District Plan. The submission focuses solely on the deep soil and canopy cover requirements introduced through Hamilton’s Plan Change 12 (PC 12). He expressed surprise that these requirements introduced by PC 12 are being challenged, as they help manage stormwater, support urban trees and reduce heat in a changing climate.

The Commissioner offers two observations and refers to his 2023 report, Are we building harder, hotter cities? The vital importance of urban green spaces, and his 2024 report, Urban ground truths: Valuing soil and subsoil in urban development, which canvassed the issues in detail.