Councils and government

Councils and Government

Westland District Plan Review/Planning Services
Fiona Aston has provided planning consultancy services to Westland District since the early 1990s, and Aston Consultants, since its inception in 1995.

This has included all stages of the District Plan Review process, reporting on numerous plan changes and resource consents and advising on policy and enforcement matters. Proposals have including subdivisions, township growth, mining, quarrying, hazards management, helipads and tourism proposals, and Westland Dairy extensions.

Housing New Zealand Comprehensive Housing Improvement Areas, Christchurch (CHIA)
The concept of CHIAs was developed by Aston Consultants, and has been incorporated into the Christchurch City Plan. It provides for the comprehensive redevelopment of areas of state housing at densities which exceed the standards otherwise permitted in the city’s suburban Living 1 zone. The concept has been retained, in an amended and updated form, in the Christchurch Land Use Recovery Plan (LURP) in the form of the Community Housing Mechanism.

Nelson Southern Link Road
Nelson Southern Link state highway proposal linked Nelson CBD with the Stoke/Richmond area. Aston Consultants prepared submissions and presented evidence at Council hearings on behalf of Housing New Zealand, a major landowner adjoining the roading corridor. Concerns related to community severance, amenity, noise, dust and visual impacts.

Richmond Subdivisions
Planning advisors to Nelson City Council for 77 and 118 lot residential subdivisions of rural land located between Nelson and Richmond.

Queenstown Lakes District Council Planning Services
Resource planning advisors to the council, advising on numerous (hundreds) of resource consents and plan changes covering a very diverse range of activities, including adventure tourism; hotels, timeshares and workers accommodation; urban and rural subdivision and growth proposals; town centre developments; signage; heritage items; community facilities and infrastructure.

Commissioner
Fiona Aston is a fully certified hearings commissioner (with excellence). She has acted as Commissioner for various resource consent hearings for Westland and Selwyn Districts, including a joint hearing with West Coast Regional Council.