The future of undeveloped land on the city side of Russley Road between Memorial Avenue, Avonhead Park and Hawthornden/ Withells roads is being looked at by the City Council.

It is developing an Area Plan to do this. The move is in response to appeals to the Environment Court against Council decisions in 1999 to keep rural and low-density residential zoning over the land.

Preparing the Memorial-Russley- Hawthornden Area Plan is the first of a potentially two-stage process. The Area Plan — Stage one — is the basis upon which a Variation to the Proposed City Plan — Stage two — would proceed if urban rezoning of the area is appropriate.

With both stages people will have a chance to help decide if the area should be rezoned urban and, if so, to what extent. The first opportunity is through informal consultation during preparation of the Area Plan. The second is through formal consultation during preparation of a Variation to the Proposed City Plan.

“What we want to do is alert people that the Area Plan is being prepared and why,” says Senior Planner Janine Sowerby.

“We’re also wanting to identify how people see the area developing and gather any other information that may help the Council to decide if the area is suitable for urban rezoning.”

Council staff will first talk to landowners and occupiers in the study area, to those whose properties border it and organisations with interests in the area. They expect to do this next month. Council staff will then consult with landowners and occupiers in the wider vicinity.

Where possible, the Area Plan will incorporate the ideas and opinions generated by these discussions. Where they are not able to be included, the Area Plan will explain why not.

• For more information, call Senior Planner Janine Sowerby on 941 8814 or Planner Glenda Dixon on 941 6203.