July 2014 . . .

We recently wrote about the Environment Court decision in Haldon Station v Mackenzie District Council confirming that centre pivots and linear irrigators are vehicles, not buildings, as defined in the Mackenzie District Plan, because an irrigator “has wheels and carries something”.

In light of that decision, Queenstown Lakes District Council has now issued a Practice Note advising it will no longer require resource consent for pivots and irrigators.  Previously, controlled activity resource consent was required, these structures meeting the definition of ‘farm buildings’ in the current District Plan.

Queenstown Lakes District Council has concluded that the Court’s approach can equally apply to its District Plan, noting that centre pivots and linear irrigators are “common pieces of agricultural equipment that can be expected within the rural environment.” 

A copy of the Council’s Practice Note can be found here.

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