Government allows revised approach for Auckland Council

Auckland's Council hasn't got it all its own way in its efforts to fast track its long term planning processes.

The Government is allowing a revised approach, but not the one the Council wanted that would have removed Environment Court appeals.

Instead it has decided there will be a one off process where council hearings will be replaced by an independent hearings approach.

The Government estimates it will allow the unitary plan provisions to be up and running within three years.

The Government has rejected Len Brown's attempt to take away Aucklanders' right to appeal to the Environment Court over the Unitary Plan.

The plan will determine where and how development can occur and will replace the seven district plans inherited from former Auckland councils.

Environment Minister Amy Adams says the Mayor's proposal to remove appeal rights and grant the Unitary Plan immediate legal effect wouldn't give Aucklanders recourse to seek full and impartial review of the plan.

She's developed a one-off process, which would mean the Unitary Plan would be developed by the council then referred to an independent hearings panel.

People could appeal to the Environment Court if the council didn't accept the panel's recommendations.